How Big Should the Lipoma Be for Surgery to Take Place?

When patients present for lipoma removal in my practice, they usually pick the larger ones, the ones that bother them most cosmetically, or those that are causing some local pressure discomfort.The smaller ones are usually not treated unless they are closely accessible from the same incision that is being used to access the ones they want removed. The kind of lipomas described in this question could all be removed if they were bothering a patient. For example, I recall a patient who just had one lipoma the size of a grape on the front of her thigh. It bothered her because she could always feel it or be reminded of it when she touched the front of her thigh. Although it was not very big, she was very happy to see it gone. I use the Smartlipo Triplex 1440 nm laser to remove lipomas through a 3/8" incision.

Lipomas are the most common benign tumor;  they are composed of adipose tissue. Sometimes these soft,  usually mobile  masses can grow in size and become an aesthetic or functional concern. Excision is best done when the lesions are smaller.

Malignant transformation of lipomas into liposarcomas  it's extremely rare ( and controversial).

Generally, I  recommend excision to allow for pathologic evaluation (which is the only  way to make a definitive diagnosis) and to  alleviate compressive symptoms it may be causing (as well as for cosmetic purposes).

Best wishes. 

It is very important to understand that the diagnosis of lipoma should not be made by a patient without being examined by a physician. Many other lesions and even tumors can appear as bumps, nodules etc. You must have a physician determine the nature of the lump you have. Once it is established that you have lipomas then it is your choice whether to remove them or not. Lipomas by themselves are harmless unless they start causing symptoms like pain etc.
Regards.