'my insecurity'
Love Island’s Shaughna Phillips reveals she’s had liposuction on her legs after being diagnosed with lipoedema
LOVE Island's Shaughna Phillips has revealed she's had liposuction on her legs after being diagnosed with lipoedema.
The 25-year-old opened up about her biggest body insecurity after finding out she had the condition after appearing on Love Island's first winter series.
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Lipoedema causes an abnormal build-up of fat cells in the legs, thighs and buttocks.
Last week Shaughna revealed she'd had surgery as she posted snaps of her hospital bed.
Explaining she had the procedure to remove unwanted body fat, Shaughna said: "So just because I've seen so many questions on my InTheStyle Q&A about what surgery I've had, I just thought I'd let you all know because I'm not going to hide anything and I was going to tell you all anyway.
"I have had liposuction on my lower legs, so my calves, because I was recently diagnosed with lipoedema, once I'd come out of the [love Island] villa.
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What is lipoedema?
Lipoedema is a long-term condition where there's an abnormal build-up of fat cells in the legs, thighs and buttocks, and sometimes in the arms.
The condition usually only affects women, although in rare cases it can also affect men.
In lipoedema, the thighs, buttocks, lower legs, and sometimes the arms, become enlarged due to a build-up of abnormal fat cells.
Both legs and/or the arms are usually enlarged at the same time and to the same extent.
The feet and hands aren't affected, which creates a "bracelet" effect or "band-like" appearance just above the ankles and wrists.
Leg and arm size can vary between individuals with lipoedema, and the condition can gradually get worse over time.
As well as becoming enlarged, affected areas of the body may:
- Feel soft, "doughy" and cold
- Bruise easily
- Ache or feel painful or tender
- Have small broken veins under the skin
Someone with lipoedema may eventually get fluid retention (lymphoedema) in their legs.
This type of swelling can worsen by the end of the day and may improve overnight, whereas the fatty swelling of lipoedema is constant.
The combination of these symptoms can lead to reduced mobility and psychological issues, such as low self-esteem.
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"I've kind of always had an insecurity about my legs, but there were so many questions about if I'd ever been diagnosed with lipoedema, and I didn't even know what it was."
She added: "So after some research and going to the doctors, I was finally diagnosed and then had my surgery on Wednesday.
"I'm recovering, I'm doing really well. I've got make-up on today, I've brushed my hair today and, yeah, I'm just really looking forward to kind of the process of it.
"It's not an overnight thing, I have to keep up with my compression garments and things like that, but so far so good."
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The reality star, who appeared on the winter 2020 series of Love Island, last week shared a picture of herself lying in a hospital bed, saying: "Surgery swag. I'm so high BTW."
In another photo, both of her legs were seen in plaster casts while her feet were left swollen and poking out of the bottom.
Posting this shot on her Instagram stories, Shaughna wrote: "Hello swollen tootsies."
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