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Is Lipoma Removal Like Liposuction?

asked 3 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Question viewed 19,725 times
Tags: body, lipoma

My dad is going to have surgery to remove two lipomas from his flanks/lower back area.  I think a lipoma is some kind of fat deposit, so I'm wondering is lipoma removal anything like liposuction?  Is it a cosmetic procedure like liposuction, i.e. not covered by insurance?

14 answers to Is Lipoma Removal Like Liposuction?

+2

Liposuction will not remove completely a lipoma

Liposuction for lipomas is not the treatment of first choice. Liposuction does not completely remove lipomas. Small surgery is a better option
Robert Kasten, MD

Mainz Dermatologic Surgeon
+2

Contour defects from lipoma removal

Proper excision of a lipoma does neccesitate an incision in the skin. Very large lipomas will leave a large indentation in the surrounding tissue once the lipoma is removed. For this reason, it is important to have this done by a plastic surgeon who is familiar with and able to properly perform reconstruction of the deeper tissues. Although liposuction is possible for removing lipomas, it is only used in rare situations. Additionally, liposuction will not completely remove the lipoma and... more
Kevin Brenner, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+2

There are better ways to remove lipomas than the old excision method

Lipomas are harmless and can be ugly bumps that are noticeable but the ugly scar from excision surgery can look worse. Power assisted liposuction with a 2 mm canula can debulk the fat mass and then a currette scraping of the pseud lining finishes off the job under local anesthesia with no scar at all for about $350 for a small lipoma. .
David Hansen, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+2

Lipomas are removed by excision

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 a lipoma. This procedure should also be performed by a plastic surgeon and a tissue diagnosis should be made prior to invasive lipoaspirative surgery to improve overall safety and... more
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+2

Liposuction to remove lipoma

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 alone can make getting tissue for pathology difficult. The second problem is recurrence. Lipomas can recur if not completely resected. They tend to have defined borders and can be "shelled... more
Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+2

Great questions. Unfortunately a lipoma is different...

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 a guarantee of insurance coverage, it is prudent to check with your insurance company before removal as there are circumstances that removal is covered by insurance.
D.J. Verret, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction not best choice for small lipomas

A Lipoma is simply a lump of fat, firmer in nature than the surrounding fat that acts like a benign tumor that keeps on growing even if you stay at the same weight. It is directly removed directly by surgery. Rarely for a huge lipoma, liposuction can be used but this increases the risk for recurrence as some lipoma cells remain. Here is an article you can read about using liposuction for Giant Lipomas that I wrote for Annals of plastic surgery :Nichter LS, Gupta... more
Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Is Lipoma Removal Like Liposuction?

I remove lipomas such as these with a combination of SmartLipo laser treatment followed by lipo-aspiration. A biopsy can be done if there is any concern that the lesion is not benign. Malignant transformation of a subcutaneous lipoma is very uncommon. Google "liposarcoma" and pick the Medscape article for information in depth about lipomas and liposarcomas. Liposuction can and has been done, but with the advent of laser assisted liposuction devices, the risk of... more
Robert M. Lowen, MD

Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

www.enhanced-you.com

+1

Lipoma Removal with Liposuction

Lipomas can usually be easily removed by making a small incision in the skin and "pushing" the lipoma out through the opening.  Liposuction is not he preferred method of treatment. 
Timothy G. Rodgers, MD

Dallas Dermatologist
+1

Lipomas are most often completely removed: Reason why ...

You run the risk of lipoma recurrence if they are not completely removed. I have used liposuction in select cases for lipomas that are very difficult to get to or intimately associated with the facial nerve. However, there is a trade off that the lipoma might recur and require additional treatment. Therefore, for easily accessible lipomas they are typically removed in their entirity.
Stephen Weber, MD

Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lipoma removal: excision vs. liposuction

Lipomas are usually removed by direct excision. This means an incision is made directly over the lipoma, and the lipoma is removed. Frequently the incision can be a smaller than the underlying lipoma. Large lipomas are occasionally removed by liposuction. Advantages of direct excision: 1. Tissue available to send for pathologic diagnosis. 2. Recurrence rate is lower than with liposuction because excision is more likely to remove all abnormal cells. 3. Insurance will usually cover... more
Ronald Friedman, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lipoma removal is not usually 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.
John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lipoma removal may be like Lipo in some cases

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 laser, but that creates also the problem. The laser technology will not allow a surgeon to have a tissue that need to be sent for the examination. The removal of lipoma is a medically... more
Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

No. An incision is made to remove the lipoma in its...

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 is currently being investigated by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in a study in the US.
Sam Speron, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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