Becca Gold undergoes lipedema liposuction and appeals insurance denial
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Apr 30
Becca Gold undergoes lipedema liposuction and appeals insurance denial
9 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Apr 30
The 32-year-old Austin podcaster paid more than $20,000 for lower-leg surgery, with further procedures planned for her upper legs and arms.
Gold says the chronic condition caused rapid leg enlargement, constant pain and weight gain resistant to diet and exercise; a GLP-1 drug eased symptoms before surgery.
Doctors say lipedema affects an estimated 10% of women but is often misdiagnosed, poorly taught in medical schools and inconsistently covered by insurers despite severe disability in some cases.
Insurance now covers lipedema surgery, but will strict new rules make this a hollow victory for patients?
If new research shows diet can shrink lipedema fat, is surgery being oversold as the only path to relief?
Why are millions of women turning to TikTok for a diagnosis that their own doctors have never heard of?