I am Sonja, born in 1977, and looking back, lipoedema has been with me since I was a teenager. It was diagnosed as an incidental finding back in 2008 – without any information or treatment. I lived with the consequences for many years without really understanding what was happening to my body.
In 2015, I lost a lot of weight by changing my diet, but the typical proportions remained: a slim upper body and much stronger legs. Instead of getting discouraged, I discovered my passion for sport and completed various training courses from 2019 (including a strength fitness B license, functional evolution trainer, kettlebell and TRX trainer).
However, with the onset of the menopause and high levels of stress at work, my condition deteriorated drastically. Pain when driving, standing for long periods at trade fairs and even restricted movement during sport made life difficult for me.
The turning point came in 2023 when I became aware of the LipoClinic via the podcast Maßgefertigt. After my visit to the open day in Mülheim, my journey of change began. Between October 2023 and April 2024, I underwent four lipoedema operations, followed by an aesthetic operation in June 2025. A total of 23.4 liters of fat were removed – a milestone that gave me a new attitude to life.
Today I am pain-free apart from occasional water retention, I can sit for hours, stand, travel and do sport again – without any restrictions, only my condition still needs to improve 😉.
As an ambassador, I would like to share my story, encourage and show others: It’s worth getting active, taking a closer look and going your own way.
