Lipoma Removal Q&A
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Do I Have to Get Lipomas Surgically Removed?
asked 3 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Jill Tomlinson, MBBS, FRACS
Question viewed 23,041 times
Tags: alternative, non surgical
I have three lipomas and I am debating what to do about them. Do I have to have them removed? Is there any danger if I decide not to have the lipoma removal procedure? Are there any alternatives to surgery that will get rid of my lipomas? Thanks
10 answers to Do I Have to Get Lipomas Surgically Removed?
+3
Lipomas are generally benign (non-cancerous) lesions....
Lipomas are generally benign (non-cancerous) lesions. They will generally continue to grow over time and only need to be removed if they become bothersome, infected, or the patient desires removal. Removal generally required a small incision over the lipoma and removal of the lesion. In some cases, a very small incision is made over the lipoma and it can be expressed out, much like a pimple.
D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2
Since lipomas are noncancerous, they do not require any...
Since lipomas are noncancerous, they do not require any treatment.
However, if a lipoma becomes bothersome, infected, or continues to grow, you may chose to have it removed. Your doctor would simply excise the lipoma by making an incision to the area.
Sam Speron, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
What to do about lipomas
Hi Anon,
You don't have to have lipomas removed. They're not cancerous or dangerous. If the lipomas bother you it is usually relatively simple to have them surgically removed. There are no alternatives to surgery to remove the lipomas.
If there is any doubt about the diagnosis or if the lipomas become painful or rapidly increases in size please seek medical advice to confirm that your lumps are truly lipomas.
Good luck with your decision!
Jill Tomlinson, MBBS, FRACS
Melbourne Plastic Surgeon
Melbourne Plastic Surgeon
+1
Lipoma removal options
Lipomas are benign growths that can be left alone as they do not have cancer potential. They may stay the same size or sometimes grow a little. They are typically cut out by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon, although liposuction can also work on larger lipomas. It is important to have the diagnosis verified by your physician to make sure it is nothing more serious than a lipoma.
+1
All concerning lumps should be evaluated by your surgeon
Lipomas are benign fatty tumors and usually to not require removal. Many people have them removed for aesthetic reasons. Others have them removed because of fear that the lipoma may in fact be something more serious. There are other tumors that can masquerade as lipomas, so if you are concerned you should have your surgeon evaluate it under a direct exam.
+1
Lipomas, lumps, and options
Hello,
All soft lumps are not lipomas and lipomas can grow to a large size and become deforming. You need professional evaluation and advice to figure whether or not your particular issue should be managed by surgery or observation.
+1
Surgical management of Lipomas
Lipomas are diagnosed based on clinical examination or diagnostic studies. You should always seek the advice of an experienced surgeon who will identify whether the lump is clinically suspicious for malignancy or whether it appears, by history and exam, to be consistent with a benign lipoma.
If it is a lipoma, it rarely will improve with time. Delay in treatment only makes it more difficult as the lesion increases in size and becomes more intimately involved with adjacent structures.
Most...
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Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1
Lipomas are ALMOST always benign
Lipomas are fairly easy to diagnose on clinical exam. They are also easy to remove surgically in most instances with a scar over the lipoma about as long as the diameter of the lesion. Some physicians alternatively advocate the use of liposuction to treat these lesions and minimize the scar but increase the risk of recurrence or miss the opportunity to diagnose a cancer. This is an example of letting cosmesis get in the way of good medicine.
Please know that while almost all lipomas are...
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+1
Mostly benign
Most lipomas that are diagnosed clinically are benign, and could be left alone. For this reason, some insurance carriers consider removal cosmetic, and not a covered benefit. Very rarely, a fatty growth can be an aggressive type of cancer, called a liposarcoma. These are malignant and can grow into nearby tissue or spread. If you have a clinically diagnosed lipoma that doesn't bother you, you are most likely safe to leave it alone. If you begin to have pain near the lipoma, or rapid...
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Michael A. Bogdan, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon
Dallas Plastic Surgeon