Can Healthy Weight Loss Reduce a Lipoma?

Is it possible to reduce lipoma size via significant, sensible weight loss? In that they are comprised of fat cells, it seems to my medically and scientifically untrained mind, that the body would "use" or reabsorb fat cells in the event of significant, healthy weight loss.

I am vigorously exploring the possibility of a non-invasive way to rid myself of a fairly large lipoma on my upper back that has recurred. I posted yesterday also. Thank you for you time and expertise.

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back lipoma female

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3 Doctor Answers | Asked by Amy1960 in Knoxville, TN

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Weight Loss No Help

The cells that constitute a lipoma seem to be under a different control system than ordinary fat system. Weight loss does not seem to have much of an effect. There are reports of people who lost massive amounts of weight, starvation (diet or otherwise) losing some mass in a lipoma but for practical purposes weight loss will not have an influence.

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD

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Virginia Beach Dermatologist

Fat cells, lipomas, and liposuction

I would agree with the previous answer that fat cells in a lipoma are under different controls than normal fat cells and will not specifically respond to weight loss that shrinks other fat cells in the body. Lipomas are a benign tumor of fat cells. They only cause problems because of their size and location but can be unsightly. Fortunately, in many cases, it is possible to treat them the same way liposuction treats other areas of unwanted fat cells. If you inherit an excess number of... more

Losing weight and the size of a large lipoma

I have treated many lipomas of this size, and weight loss will likely not affect the dimensions of the lipoma in any signficant way. Surgery90210. Surgery is often the best option for removal.