Leg Lipoma Hurts, Should It Be Removed?

In my Los Angeles office, I see a lot of lipomas, a fraction of which are painful. Most lipomas are not symptomatic and I agree with Dr. Placik that the majority of painful lipomas are either angiolipomas or glomus tumors. I would have them surgically removed. In my practice, I use a very small incision overlying the lipoma.

The removal of lipomas in the leg can be straightforward procedure. The most important point to keep in mind is that surgery in the lower extremities are prone to fluid collections. When discussing your surgery with your surgeon, ask what modalities they will use to prevent the accumulation of fluid, seromas, or hematomas. Your surgeon may recommend that you use tight compressive hose that will allow your skin to adhere to the underlying muscle.  

If this lipoma is getting bigger, have it taken out. Removing the lipoma will likely make the pain subside, but not always. However, it should be removed in order to determine a pathological diagnosis.

The vast majority of lipomas are removed with local anesthesia.  Rarely, if there is an exceptionally large one, or if it's in a precarious location, sedation may accompany the local anesthesia. Particularly if it hurts, I would recommend removal.

In my experience, the painful lipomas tend to be diagnosed as angiolipomas. Of course, that is of little relevance to you and has little to do with the treatmnent. Lipomas are typically removed to establish a definitive diagnosis, minimize discomfort and prevent further growth. Generally, the surgical excision of lipomas in the extremities is relatively straighforward as long as they are not in close proximity to any significant nerves or vessels. I have frequently performed these under... more

Any painful abnormal growth should be removed and biposied. If it is small enough, doesn't adhere to the deep tissues or invade into them, and if you are courageous enough, it can be done under local anesthesia. The realatively sooner you do it the easier so it doesn't have a chance to grow ever bigger.

It would depend on the size of the lipoma. Lipomas, if they are small enough, and located superficial enough can be excised under simple local anesthesia, in an office setting. Larger lipomas can be excised in an out-patient OR setting, again under local with IV sedation. Only large lipomas that might be adhering to muscle or in difficult locaions, need to be done under general anesthesia. I have personal experience both taking them out in my office and having a large lipoma excised... more