Is lipoma removal like liposuction?

Hello, Usually a lipoma is removed by making an incision and trying to remove the whole thing as one piece. This reduces the chance that the tumor could return and allows for the removed lump to be sent for pathology if desired.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure to remove the unwanted deposits of fat from specific areas of body. Lipoma is a fatty growth under the skin layer, but needs to be excised by the surgeon and the specimen should be sent to pathology. Often, patients also ask if lipoma could be removed with the use of the... more

Lipomas are removed by surgical excision, not by liposuction. This should preferably be performed by a plastic surgeon to minimize scarring. In very specific circumstances where traditional surgery is contraindicated for various reasons, a patient may undergo lipoaspiration to improve symptoms associated with... more

You can remove lipomas with liposuction but it introduces two potential problems. The first problem is being sure to have tissue for pathology.  While soft tissue masses that are otherwise asymptomatic can be a lipoma it can also be other things.  Pathologic diagnosis is important and liposuction... more

Great questions. Unfortunately a lipoma is different from regular fat. Liposuction will tend to remove most of the lesion but it will likely come back. The best treatment is to make a small incision over the lipoma and remove the lesion. At times, lipoma removal is not considered cosmetic. While there is never... more

No. An incision is made to remove the lipoma in its entirety including the capsule. Liposuction is an option, but there is no guarantee of removal of the entire lipoma, and this is not the preferred method of treatment. In the future, the injections that cause the fat to dissolve might be an option. This... more