Mostly benign

Most lipomas that are diagnosed clinically are benign, and could be left alone. For this reason, some insurance carriers consider removal cosmetic, and not a covered benefit. Very rarely, a fatty growth can be an aggressive type of cancer, called a liposarcoma. These are malignant and can grow into nearby tissue or spread. If you have a clinically diagnosed lipoma that doesn't bother you, you are most likely safe to leave it alone. If you begin to have pain near the lipoma, or rapid growth, have it evaluated and removed.

Lipomas are generally benign (non-cancerous) lesions. They will generally continue to grow over time and only need to be removed if they become bothersome, infected, or the patient desires removal. Removal generally required a small incision over the lipoma and removal of the lesion. In some cases, a very small incision is made over the lipoma and it can be expressed out, much like a pimple.