Laser for Lipoma Removal?

Basic surgical principles must be followed and all growths even if they have a low suspicion of malignancy as in a lipoma need to be excised and sent for pathologic examination. Otherwise, one cannot be sure if it has cancerous cells (rare, liposarcoma) or if it benign (lipoma).

Why would you want to remove a lipoma with a laser? A lipoma is an abnormal growth of fatty cells located underneath the skin. It is a very straightforward procedure to remove most lipomas through very small incisions. A laser is concentrated, ultra hot light that evaporates (and burns) tissues. Using a laser to remove most lipomas would not benefit the patient. Cutting with the laser on the skin would most likely prolong the healing, not speed up healing, as burned edges try to heal... more

Unfortunately, there is no laser or noninvasive technique to remove the lipoma. Lasers typically work on the superficial layer of the skin and lipomas are located much deeper. The most effective way to remove a lipoma is through surgical excision. For your best results, it is best to work with a board-certified plastic surgeon can identify the entire extent of the mass remove it completely and close the wound in a fashion that does not have undue tension. This will produce though least... more

Ablative lasers have no role in the management of bengin adipose tumors of the subcutaneous tissue. These nodules should be removed by an experienced surgeon who can identify optimal patterns of incision placement and lipoma removal to reduce scars.

I strongly believe in sending nearly all specimens to the pathologist. Exceptions might be firbro-epithelial polyps and warts, although I sometimes send these off as well. Just yesterday a patient was telling me of a relative who has metastatic melanoma. She eveidently had some growths taken off a year ago, but the specimens were not sent off. Probably, they were nothing but it is always prudent to have the path report sitting in the patient's chart. Getting back to your situation.... more

The answer to your question is mainly in the concept of pathological diagnosis. If you doctor is sure about the diagnosis of a certain mass or swelling, it does not matter how we remove it. The problem is after removal with lipo or laser, the tissues could not be sent for examination by the microscope. If i'm the patient, I would want to know the final diagnosis for my lesions. Hope that helps!

A lipoma is a kind of tumor. It is an abnormal overgrowth of fat cells. Very rarely it can be malignant (liposarcoma). Total removal of the lipoma through an incision over it is the best way to make sure it isn't cancer, make sure it is completely removed, and to make sure it doesn't come back. Lasers have no role in this. Unfortunately, too many doctors have forgotten this and try to treat a lipoma as just a cosmetic thing and liposuction it away. Under these circumstances, total... more