About us
An association created to bring science and society, professionals and patients, knowledge and reality closer together.
Our story
Science, collaboration, connection and knowledge without borders.
The Lipedema Without Borders (LISFERA) movement was born with a transformative purpose: to break down borders and bring knowledge about lipedema to more and more people, professionals and countries.
The initiative grew out of the experience of Dr. Diego Rolando Torrico Moscoso and his work with lipedema. Looking at the condition's landscape in Latin America, he noticed a worrying reality: knowledge about lipedema and scientific output on the subject were still limited in the region. In several Latin American countries, the topic was little known even among health professionals, which made it harder to recognize the condition, reach a diagnosis and access qualified information.
Faced with this reality, and through conversations and reflections with his brother, Dr. Sérgio Torrico, the idea began to take shape of creating a network that could bring professionals closer together, encourage the exchange of experiences and spread knowledge about lipedema beyond borders.
And so a WhatsApp community was created, bringing together doctors and other health professionals interested in sharing clinical experiences, discussing cases, sharing studies and scientific evidence, and strengthening the connection among those dedicated to the study, diagnosis and treatment of lipedema.
The community began to grow on its own. New professionals kept arriving, different regions came to be represented and, little by little, the network reached other countries. This exchange showed that the challenges related to knowledge, recognition and care of lipedema were not limited to one city, state or country.
The more the community grew, the clearer it became that something bigger was needed: a network capable of connecting Latin America and the world around science, education and awareness of lipedema.
It was during this period of growth that Dr. Giselle Foureaux also joined the initiative, bringing her academic and scientific experience, her work at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and the strength of Lipedema Science, helping to expand the connection between the community, research, scientific output and the university environment.
The union of these experiences, knowledge and purposes strengthened what would become LISFERA, Lipedema Sem Fronteiras (Lipedema Without Borders).
What began as a network of professionals exchanging knowledge evolved into a broader movement, built collaboratively and able to bring together health professionals, researchers, patients, families, institutions and everyone committed to changing the reality of lipedema.
And so LISFERA carries at its core what has been present since the very beginning of its journey: science, collaboration, connection and knowledge without borders.
The name
More than a combination of letters, LISFERA represents a new era for knowledge about lipedema, an era in which science, information, collaboration and care can flow without geographic, cultural, social or linguistic barriers.
With its establishment as the Lipedema Without Borders Association of Patients and Professionals (LISFERA), this purpose grows even broader.
The Association now brings together, in a single network, those who research, teach, care for and live with lipedema, bringing health professionals, researchers, patients, families, institutions and society closer together.
We believe that professionals and patients should not walk in isolation. Science needs to know the reality of people's lives, just as patients need access to reliable information, qualified professionals and evidence-based knowledge.
Who we are
The Lipedema Without Borders Association of Patients and Professionals (LISFERA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting knowledge, education, research, awareness and support, and to advocating for the interests of people with lipedema.
Our work connects patients, doctors, health professionals, researchers, educational institutions, research centers, civil society organizations, government and society, fostering a collaborative network dedicated to advancing knowledge and care related to lipedema.
We work so that people with lipedema have ever greater access to quality information, proper diagnosis, qualified guidance, trained professionals and humane care.
At the same time, we seek to strengthen the scientific and professional community through continuing education, research, innovation, the exchange of experiences and the dissemination of the best available scientific evidence.
We understand that changing the reality of lipedema requires action on several fronts.
That is why LISFERA works simultaneously in:
Our purpose
We want to help build a future in which lipedema is recognized, understood, diagnosed and treated with seriousness, scientific responsibility, respect and humanity.
Our purpose is to turn lack of information into knowledge, isolation into community, invisibility into recognition and scientific knowledge into better possibilities for care.
We want to give a voice to people living with lipedema and, at the same time, offer professionals tools to understand, research, diagnose and care better every day.
Because we believe that
To connect patients, health professionals, researchers and society to promote scientific knowledge, awareness, education, support, research, innovation and representation related to lipedema, contributing to proper diagnosis, access to information and qualified care, the training of professionals and the development of policies and initiatives that promote health, dignity and quality of life.
To be a national and international reference association in lipedema, recognized for its ability to connect patients, professionals, researchers and institutions, break down geographic, social, cultural and linguistic borders, and contribute to advances in science, education, awareness, care, representation and policies related to lipedema.
Our values
Science is one of the pillars of LISFERA. We encourage information, practices, research, educational activities and care-related initiatives to be guided by the best available scientific evidence, with responsibility, constant updating and rigor.
Behind every diagnosis there is a person, a story and a journey. We advocate for care based on listening, respect, dignity and an understanding of each person's individual needs.
We want to build a community where people with lipedema find information, guidance, respect and belonging, especially those who have spent years searching for answers or struggling to get a proper diagnosis and adequate care.
We believe that knowledge and cooperation should have no borders. We connect people from different regions, countries, cultures, languages, backgrounds and experiences to build knowledge collectively.
We seek to create an impact that goes beyond the association itself, contributing to changes in awareness, access to information, healthcare, professional training, research and public policies related to lipedema.
Quality information can change the course of people's lives. We work to expand knowledge about lipedema among patients, health professionals and society, contributing to increasingly qualified recognition, diagnosis and care.
We seek to amplify the voice and participation of people with lipedema in discussions about health, science, healthcare and public policy, valuing their experiences and needs.
We believe that knowledge, diagnosis, guidance and care should not be privileges. We seek to help reduce geographic, social, economic, cultural and informational barriers.
We act with transparency, responsibility, respect and commitment to the truth, fighting unfounded information, unrealistic promises and practices that are incompatible with scientific and ethical principles.
We recognize that lipedema is present in different social, cultural and geographic realities. We value the diversity of experiences and perspectives as a fundamental element in building knowledge and more inclusive solutions.
Executive board
The composition of the executive board will be published here, with each member's background.
President
Coming soonVice President
Coming soonSecretary
Coming soonTreasurer
Coming soonPatients and health professionals, in Brazil and around the world, can already join the community.