Lipedema and Lymphedema Care in Northern Virginia | LiLy Collaborative

A Service of My Wellness Physicians

Lipedema and Lymphedema Care
in Northern Virginia LiLy Collaborative

Physician-led diagnosis and management for lipedema, lymphedema, and lipo-lymphedema. The first dedicated lipedema and lymphatic care program in Leesburg, VA.

Northern Virginia   |   (703) 777-9355

Best of Loudoun 2025
Double Board-Certified Physician
First Lipedema and Lymphatic Program in Loudoun County

"Seen. Diagnosed. Finally Treated."

LiLy Collaborative
My Lipedema and Lymphedema Team

You've heard this before.

  • "Just diet and exercise more."
  • "That's normal for your body type."
  • "Swelling is just part of getting older."
  • "There's nothing else we can do."
  • "It's probably genetics."
  • "You should try harder."

There's a reason nothing has worked.

LiLy Collaborative is led by a physician double board-certified in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine, with two decades of clinical experience. Together with a certified lymphatic therapist, vein specialist, registered dietitian, and mental health therapist, we diagnose, stage, and manage lipedema and lymphedema with the coordinated care that has been missing.

Lipedema, Lymphedema,
and Lipo-Lymphedema

Chronically underdiagnosed. Life-changing to finally understand.

Clinical photo showing lipedema affecting the lower legs Photo: ccjm.org

Lipedema

A chronic fat disorder, almost exclusively in women. Disproportionate, painful fat in the legs, hips, and arms, while hands and feet stay slim. Diet and exercise don't touch it.

  • Fat that doesn't shift with weight loss
  • Pain, tenderness, or heaviness
  • Easy bruising
  • A visible line between limb and foot
  • Onset during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause

No blood test confirms it. A trained eye does. That's where we start.

Photo Placeholder — Lymphedema

Lymphedema

Chronic swelling from a lymphatic system that can't keep up. Fluid builds in the arms or legs, causing swelling, skin changes, and recurring infection risk.

We treat it with Complete Decongestive Therapy:

  • Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
  • Compression therapy
  • Therapeutic exercise
  • Skin care education
  • Self-management training

Delivered by our certified lymphedema therapist, as part of your plan.

Lipo-Lymphedema

When advanced lipedema damages the lymphatic vessels, both conditions appear together: painful fat, plus fluid swelling. It demands integrated care, not two separate plans. That's exactly how we built LiLy Collaborative.

The Four Stages of Lipedema

Lipedema progresses gradually. Earlier diagnosis means more management options and better outcomes.

Illustration of the five lipedema body types

Lipedema Body Types

Lipedema presents differently from person to person. Recognizing your type helps shape the right care plan.

Does this sound like you?

Often dismissed. Never imagined.

Disproportionate swelling
Pain with light pressure
Easy bruising
Heavy, tired limbs
No change with diet
Worse with hormones
Recurring infections
Skin texture changes
Family history
Years of frustration
1 in 9
women may have lipedema. Most never get a diagnosis.
~12 yrs
average wait for a correct diagnosis.
71
global experts shaped the 2025 lipedema consensus we follow.

If this sounds like you, you deserve an answer, not another dismissal.

You belong here if...

Your legs feel heavy, swollen, and standard care hasn't helped

You suspect lipedema, by symptoms or family history

You've been diagnosed but never properly managed

You're managing lymphedema and want one coordinated team

You may have both lipedema and lymphedema

Hormonal shifts seem to be making things worse

You've been told it's "just weight" and you know better

You're tired of being told to lose weight as the only answer

You want a physician-led plan built specifically around you

Physician referrals welcome. Self-referrals welcome too.

A plan, not a guess.

Physician expertise and lymphatic therapy, in one coordinated program.

Initial Evaluation

A full hour with our physician covering medical history, symptoms, hormones, and metabolism, followed by sixty to seventy-five minutes with our certified lymphedema therapist for a lymphatic assessment and hands-on Manual Lymphatic Drainage. Diagnosis confirmed, plan built.

Comprehensive Laboratory Work-Up

Estrogen, insulin resistance, cortisol. The factors that quietly worsen lymphatic disease, addressed together.

Ongoing Care

Nutrition, mental wellness, and physician-supervised management, including GLP-1 therapy when appropriate.

Specialists who get it.

Dr. Minnie Cruz-Tolentino, MD, FAAFP, DABOM

Founding Physician

Double board-certified in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine. Twenty years leading diagnosis, staging, and management, where lipedema, hormones, and metabolism intersect.

Certified Lymphedema Therapist

DPT, CLT

Manual Lymphatic Drainage, compression therapy, and therapeutic exercise, woven into your LiLy Collaborative plan.

Cardiology & Vein Specialists

Collaborative Referral Partners

When venous and cardiovascular health intersect with lymphatic disease, our partners step in.

Registered Dietitian

Nutrition Specialist

Anti-inflammatory, lipedema-aware nutrition guidance woven directly into your care plan.

Mental Health Therapist

Behavioral Health Specialist

Support for the emotional toll of living with a chronic, often invisible condition.

More than a consultation.

Two specialists. One coordinated visit. You leave with a diagnosis, a plan, and lymphatic therapy already underway.

Physician + Therapy, One Visit

Medical evaluation and lymphatic assessment, together. One clear picture, one plan.

A Concierge-Style Visit

Unhurried time with your physician and therapist, in a calm, private setting built around you, not a waiting room.

A Plan in Writing

Concrete next steps. Referrals if needed. A path forward that's actually yours.

The First Consultation

Two specialists. One visit.

60
min
Part One | Physician
History, exam, diagnosis, hormonal and metabolic review with our board-certified physician
60–75
min
Part Two | Lymphatic & MLD
Lymphatic evaluation plus hands-on Manual Lymphatic Drainage with our certified therapist
Schedule My Consultation
Questions first? Call (703) 777-9355 or email info@mywellnessphysicians.com.

Questions we hear often.

Lipedema is diagnosed clinically by a trained physician through medical history and physical examination. Lipedema can be diagnosed by a family medicine doctor, an obesity medicine doctor, an endocrinologist, a vascular specialist, a phlebologist, or a lymphedema specialist. Schedule an evaluation at LiLy Collaborative for a formal diagnosis and staging.
Most lipedema patients are managed conservatively without surgery. Non-surgical management at LiLy Collaborative includes physician-led medical management, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, compression therapy, anti-inflammatory nutrition, and therapeutic exercise. Surgical options such as tumescent liposuction are available at surgical referral centers for appropriate candidates.
At My Wellness Physicians, we are a cash-based, out-of-network, fee-for-service practice. Lymphatic therapy services, compression garments, and other services may be covered depending on your insurance, and coverage varies by plan. We provide Superbills, itemized receipts with diagnosis information, that you can submit to your insurer for potential reimbursement, depending on your insurance.
We accept cash, credit card, FSA/HSA, and CareCredit. We do not submit claims to insurance directly, but we provide Superbills, itemized receipts with diagnosis information, that you can submit to your insurer for potential reimbursement, depending on your insurance.
Yes. LiLy Collaborative welcomes physician referrals for patients with suspected or confirmed lipedema, lymphedema, or lipo-lymphedema. Call (703) 777-9355 or visit mywellnessphysicians.com to submit a referral.
LiLy Collaborative at My Wellness Physicians is at 1604 Village Market Blvd SE, Suite 119, Leesburg, VA 20175. We serve patients from Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Loudoun County, Herndon, Reston, Fairfax, and throughout Northern Virginia. Call (703) 777-9355 or schedule online.
No. LiLy Collaborative is a specialized service line within My Wellness Physicians. You receive the same standard of concierge, physician-led care, now with dedicated lipedema and lymphedema expertise added to the team.

Care you can verify.

LiLy Collaborative at My Wellness Physicians

1604 Village Market Blvd SE, Suite 119 | Leesburg, VA 20175
(703) 777-9355  |  info@mywellnessphysicians.com


Physician

Dr. Minnie Cruz-Tolentino, MD, FAAFP, DABOM
Double board-certified: Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine

Best of Loudoun 2025

Serving Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Purcellville, Middleburg, Dulles, Herndon, Reston, Fairfax, Centreville, Manassas, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, and Prince William County.

We're here when you're ready.

Location

1604 Village Market Blvd SE
Suite 119
Leesburg, VA 20175

Hours

Monday through Friday: 8:30am to 5:30pm
Saturday: By Appointment
Sunday: Closed

Payment

Out-of-network, fee-for-service
Superbills provided
CareCredit financing available

You've waited long enough.

You deserve a physician who listens, a team that gets it, and a plan built for your body, not a generic one.

Book Your First Consultation
Take the Free Self-Assessment

Questions first? info@mywellnessphysicians.com
(703) 777-9355