PRE-CONGRESS
PROGRAM
Pre‑Congress Day
Thursday 11th November
Start your Lipedema World Congress experience with a dedicated Pre‑Congress Day on Thursday 11th November. This optional, full‑day program is designed to deepen your understanding of lipoedema, build skills, and foster connections before the main scientific program begins.
The Pre‑Congress Day is ticketed separately from the main congress registration. You can add your Pre‑Congress ticket when you register for the congress, or purchase it later via the delegate portal, subject to availability.
Who is the Pre‑Congress Day for?
The Pre‑Congress Day will offer parallel tracks tailored to different professions, levels of experience and areas of interest. Whether you are new to lipoedema or an experienced clinician or researcher, there will be sessions designed for you.
Planned tracks include:
- Introductory track – for those new to lipoedema, including clinicians, allied health professionals, and researchers who want a solid foundation in current understanding of lipoedema, diagnosis, and conservative management.
- Advanced clinical track – for experienced practitioners, with a focus on complex cases, multidisciplinary care, and emerging approaches to treatment.
- Surgical focus – exploring current evidence, techniques, and considerations in lipoedema surgery, with input from leading surgeons in the field.
- Research focus – highlighting cutting‑edge lipoedema research, with a special emphasis on the work being done in Melbourne, including world‑leading research at the O’Brien Department at St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research.
- Patient association program – an extended stream for representatives of patient organisations from around the world, enabling collaboration, relationship building, and shared learning across the global lipoedema community.
Not all tracks may be available in final form; the exact structure and session titles will be confirmed in the coming months.
What to expect on the day
While the detailed program is still being finalised, you can expect:
- Expert‑led sessions combining presentations, case discussions, and interactive elements
- Opportunities to learn from and network with international leaders in lipoedema care and research
- Dedicated time for questions, discussion, and peer exchange
- Morning and afternoon refreshments, and lunch, included in your Pre‑Congress ticket
The day will run approximately from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with breaks scheduled throughout. The Pre‑Congress Day will be held at the Crown Conference Centre, Southbank, unless otherwise noted for specific activities.
Some components (for example, research lab tours or specific surgical workshops) may take place at nearby venues. Where off‑site activities are included, accessibility and transport information will be provided as soon as details are confirmed.
Registration and pricing
The Pre‑Congress Day is not included in the main Lipedema World Congress registration and requires a separate ticket.
- Pricing: Early‑bird and standard rates will apply, with discounted rates for members of the Lipedema World Alliance and Lipoedema Australia.
- Categories: Registration categories (e.g., Dr/Surgeon, Medical/Nursing/Allied Health, Other Professionals, Patient Organisation Representative) will align with the main congress.
- Inclusions: Access to all Pre‑Congress sessions you are eligible to attend, morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea.
You can add your Pre‑Congress ticket when you register for the main congress, or purchase it later via the delegate portal. As numbers for some tracks and activities may be limited, we encourage early registration if you are particularly interested in specific streams (for example, surgical or research‑focused sessions).
Program release and updates
The full Pre‑Congress Day program, including confirmed session titles, speakers, and any off‑site activities, will be released in the coming months.
We will announce program updates via:
- The LWC website (this page)
- The delegate portal
- Email updates to registered delegates and Pre‑Congress ticket holders
If you have specific interests or accessibility requirements related to the Pre‑Congress Day, please let us know at info@lwc2027.com. We will do our best to accommodate reasonable requests once the program is finalised.
Why attend the Pre‑Congress Day?
The Pre‑Congress Day is designed to:
- Give you a strong foundation or advanced update in lipoedema science and care, depending on your track
- Connect you with like‑minded colleagues and leaders in the field before the main congress begins
- Offer focused learning in areas that matter most to you – whether that’s surgery, research, or patient advocacy
- Maximise the value of your trip to Melbourne by adding an extra day of high‑quality, targeted education
Whether you are building your lipoedema knowledge from the ground up or looking to deepen your expertise in a specific area, the Pre‑Congress Day offers a focused, collegial environment to start your congress experience.