What do I do about being nervous of scalp removal surgery and possible excessive bleeding? (Photos)

Question

I’m nervous about having lipoma surgery on scalp (optional I know). But it hurts. Scared of excessive bleeding. I am considering surgical removal by a plastic surgeon - on the scalp (radiologist report says it’s a lipoma, maybe it’s a hard mass of something else) - Seen many YouTube clips for lipoma surgery and it looks like a lot of bleeding - scared of having blood transfusion or stroke or vessel being cut. Are antibiotics absolutely needed after lipoma surgery, as I thought they only got bacterial infections. Lipoma size is 3.1cm x 0.4cm I think

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

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

Lipomas can normally be removed in the office with just local anesthesia.  There is usually not a lot of bleeding and I have never seen or heard of a transfusion being needed for this type of procedure.  The lipoma would be above the skull bone, so the surgery would not need to enter under the bone.  There should not be a risk of a stroke with this procedure.  The use of antibiotics dependent on the surgeon performing the surgery, so I would discuss this with your particular surgeon.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your excellent question and photographs.  In most cases a lipoma removal can be performed in an office setting with little risk of bleeding.  I would recommend seeking out a series of in-person consultations in order to get the best treatment advice for yours.  Hope this helps!

What do I do about being nervous of scalp removal surgery and possible excessive bleeding? (Photos)

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