Initially her patients were poor folk but as time progressed wealthier people began to hire her and paid handsomely for her services.

Her position could be compared with that of her contemporary Amalia Assur, who was given special dispensation to practice dentistry despite the fact that this was prohibited for females.

An additional reason for her acquittal was that Åhrberg was foremost active as a surgeon and that the medical aid she offered her patients' illnesses were natural herbal remedies.

On 12 May 1852, Lovisa Åhrberg was awarded by King Oscar I of Sweden with a medal in silver for Medborgerlig Förtjänst ('Citizen Service'), which in contemporary society was regarded as a final legitimization of her work as a physician.

Lovisa Åhrberg was admired by Fredrika Bremer, who mentions her in her famous novel Hertha in 1856: Be it permissible for me to here utter a word of regard and recognition for the doctoress in Stockholm, Miss Årberg, and add the wish that some of the wealthy people, who occasionally send their carriages to fetch the skillful doctoress, would like to, at one time or another, witness the reception she daily gives to the poor people of Stockholm, who hurry through her open doors with their wounds and injuries; they would, as much as we do, be taken by admiration upon the never ending patience, the good humour and the generosity, by which she gives her time, her care and her ointments to the thousands, who have nothing to give her but the thank you which for some low minded people are made to be ungrateful.

This contemporary book reports, that Åhrberg's own health had become so damaged by hard work that she on several occasions had to take leave and rest in the resort of Carlsbad.

The article ends the report: One can only hope, that the only too much applied strength to at least some extent will continue to support her, to benefit the great number of people, who still rely upon her care.