I would like to have a small lipoma removed that's above my left eyebrow, will there be significant scarring?

Question

My main concern is scaring post op and also the price. I know there are a few procedures available. I would like to know the best one for my situation. Thank you!

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Lipomas are benign fatty tumors that occur under the skin and less commonly within the muscle. They are associated with mild discomfort and a lump underneath the skin. It is always best to talk to an expert plastic surgeon to determine whether the lipoma is possibly a cyst or a tumor or hernia. We would have to remove the lipoma to be sure that it is not something else and we usually do this by sending it to a pathologist for evaluation. If a lipoma is painful, then an exam is needed to make sure it is not compressing on a nerve or whether the diagnosis is different. Aftercare for a lipoma includes gentle compression and Plato’s Scar Serum twice daily on the wound.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Robert M. Lowen, MD · Answer

This is a visible area, so the incision would normally be oriented horizontally, preferably in a wrinkle or what looks like it will become a wrinkle. The incision is usually about 3/8" long. Care is needed to avoid injury to the supraorbital or supratrochlear or facial nerve to the forehead, depending on where the lipoma is located. 
A board-certified plastic surgeon is very familiar with this anatomy. In my practice, this  procedure would  cost about 1,000 for a typical 2 cm lipoma. As mentioned, some patients believe they have a lipoma when they actually have a sebaceous cyst, another common lump on the forehead.

Bram Kaufman, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. In general, whenever an incision is made there will be a scar. The severity of the scar depends on many factors including the location of the scar, your genetic makeup, how the wound is created and repaired among others. Fortunately, on the face, scars are often (but not always) very good. Also, depending on where the lipoma is located, there can be options to approach the removal through incisions located where scarring is optimized or hidden. Removal in this area can sometimes be done throught the upper eyelid or from behind the hairline with endoscopic assistance. I hope this helps.Thank youBRK

Afshin Farzadmehr, MD · Answer

possible to hide the incisojnin natural lines.  Lipoma of forehead are deeper than usual lipoma and need to be removed with extra care in surgery facility.  Diagnosis of lipoma versus cyst is also important to make since different surgical treatments for both.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question.  I would advise a small incision being made over the lipoma to extract it in its entirety.  Scarring would be minimal as would be the case of recurrence.  Hope this helps.

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

Removal of lipoma from over the eyebrow is routine but requires a plastic surgeon in order to avoid injury to underlying nerves and vessels. The incision can be hidden right over the eyebrow hairs making it less noticeable.

I would like to have a small lipoma removed that's above my left eyebrow, will there be significant scarring?

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Answers (6)

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