Who Should Remove my Lipoma?

asked 3 years ago by enaj in grand rapids, MI. USA
Latest answer by Jill Tomlinson, MBBS, FRACS
Question viewed 8,723 times
Tags: plastic surgeon

I have a lipoma on my anterior shoulder and I’m afraid about the surgery. Should the surgeon be an orthopedic specialist or a plastic surgeon?

I'm not afraid of pain or of a scar, I'm only afraid about the anesthesia. Any comments? I've had this for about 3 or 4 years and I'm a 51 y.o. mother of 6 and I'd really like it off of my shoulder.

5 answers to Who Should Remove my Lipoma?

Choose a plastic surgeon to remove your lipoma

I recommend choosing a plastic surgeon to remove your lipoma. Plastic surgeons are highly skilled in performing procedures under local anaesthetic (with or without sedation) which can minimise your anaesthetic risks. As an added bonus you're also likely to experience aesthetic benefits in the contour and scar. DIscussing your anaesthetic fears with your doctor will help the two of you better manage the situation. You may find that your fears are unfounded or easily allayed. Good luck! more

Jill Tomlinson, MBBS, FRACS
Melbourne Plastic Surgeon

Choosing a surgeon for a lipoma removal

A board certified plastic surgeon who can distinguish between a lipoma, a high risk tumor, and a lymph node. Experience counts.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Who should remove a lipoma ?

For most surgeons, the closure of the wound is a nuisance and left for an intern to do. For a plastic surgeon, it is a major part of the procedure. So I would clearly choose a plastic surgeon to remove a lipoma and in my practice it is generally performed with only local anesthesia so you can drive yourself home. See the video below, about "how to pick a plastic surgeon" see video

Darrick E. Antell, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

See a plastic surgeon for your lipoma

When considering a surgeon for the removal of a lipoma, a plastic surgeon has the most experience in the face and other sensitive areas of your body. However, a plastic surgeon is very comfortable working throughout the body and has a great deal of experience working with lipomas and other masses in the soft tissue. A plastic surgeon understands the lines of tension in your skin and also has an appreciation to how large a defect is necessary and what will be required to close the defect... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Depends upon what you want afterwards

Hello, If you are concerned about how things might look afterward, then I would says consider a plastic surgeon. If you want to pay less or even have it covered under insurance, then go to a general surgeon or an orthopedist. If it is small it might be do-able in the office under local anesthesia.

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

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