Feasibility of Removing Unencapsulated Lipomas Via Liposuction?

asked 2 years ago by attorneydavid in memphis
Latest answer by Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Question viewed 1,313 times
Tags: lipoma

I was diagnosed with either type 2 madelung's (gp) or lipoedema (specialist in CA) (got a biopsy done and lumpy nodular fat). It was recommended that I seek liposuction for the affected areas. The specialist in CA seemed to recommend bodyjet due to some studies out of Germany. My gp indicated he thought local only true tumescent was the way to go. I would like advice on seeking a doctor who will treat the condition and what method would be ideal.

11 answers to Feasibility of Removing Unencapsulated Lipomas Via Liposuction?

Liposuction for lipoma removal

I would concur with many of my colleagues that it is a bad idea to remove lipomas with liposuction. Lipomas are abnormal growths of cells. Although the vast majority of them are non cancerous, lipomas can be invasive. Removal of them is usually straightforward for a board certified plastic surgeon, even if they are under muscles, nerves, or next to bone where specialized training is required for their removal. Recurrent lipomas are much harder to remove and more dangerous because of scar... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Recurrent Lipomas

Your lipomas will continue to recurr. The technique of removal should not be determined by a family practitioner. No trendy technique in liposuction has proven to be superior in this circumstance so don't be fooled. Regardless of the technique, your result should be very reasonable so select your plastic surgeon by first ensuring that he's board certified by ABPS. Best Wishes, DoctorMeade

Ricardo A. Meade, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

www.DoctorMeade.com

Liposuction of Large Unencapsulated Lipomas (Madelung's disease)

Unencapsulated Lipomas can be reduced by liposuction and may be a valuable treatment option for Madelung's disease - also called Benign symmetrical lipomatosis if in areas where critical anatomical structures such as nerves or major blood vessels live (for instance the back of the neck and upper back might be areas where this could be used.) Benign symmetrical lipomatosis disorder is characterized by multiple, symmetric, nonencapsulated fat masses in the face, neck, and other areas... more

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Excision vs Liposuction for lipomas

This is a tough situation! The gold standard for removing a lipoma is excision. This will result in the lowest recurrent rate. For insurance purposes, the lipomas must be sent to pathology for re-reimbursement. However, if you have multiple lipomas covering a large area, are you willing to have multiple scars or one long scar to remove all of them? In certain situations, liposuction may be used, realizing the lipoma may not be removed adequately and the risk of recurrence is higher. Also,... more

Michael A. Jazayeri, MD
Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon

Feasibility of removing unencapsulated lipomas via Liposuction?

I totally disagree with the recommendations of removing ANY type of lipomas via any type of liposuction. This is because the recurrence rate is so high. The reason is the capsule (live cells of the lipoma) remain to re grow. The only acceptable method that will be insurance covered is excisional removal. Regards.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction for lipoma removal

I, in agreement with the other surgeons below, do not necessarily feel that waterjet offers superior results when compared to other techniques for fat extraction. the advantage to liposuction removal of lipomas are the limited scars. The disavantage is the likelihood and inevitablity of incomplete removal. When removing tumors, benign or maligant, we generally prefer to excise a tumor for defnitive treatment. When our goal is not necessarily curative, we sometimes perform a debulking... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction for Lipomas

Not the best way to go about removal of lipomas. As long as you are willing to accept a high recurrence rate then go for it. Otherwise the best method to decrease your recurrence rate would be to remove it via excision. Good luck.

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction technique

First of all it has been my experience that insurance companies almost never pay for liposuction removal of lipomas. As soon as they see the word "liposuction" they deny. Second, I have personally used probably every means of lposuction, traditional, tumescent, Vaser, all the lasers and the body jet and can safely say that the most important component is the person who is doing the procedure. The differences of the technique used are minor when compared to the experience of the... more

John P. Stratis, MD
Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon

Lipoma removal by liposuction

First, body jet is just one form of liposuction. Second, liposuction in general ins not the best way to treat lipomas. They often do not remove them completely. They are usually best removed by simple surgical excision.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Madelung

MSL, Multiple Symmetrical Lipomatosis, also known as Benign Symmetric Lipomatosis or Madelung's Disease and Lanois-Bensaude Syndrome is a metabolic condition characterized by the growth of fatty masses around the face, back of the head, neck, upper arms, abdomen, back and upper leg in a very specific pattern or distribution. Unlike the usual lipoma, these benign, fatty masses are not enclosed within a membranous capsule with very distinct boundaries. It is because of this characteristic, as... more