Reoccurring Lipoma and getting infected - root cause? (photo)

Question

I had lipomas across my body (varied sizes). a year back, i had an infection in the thigh lipoma (in inch dia) & got it operated. again there was fat accumulation in the same place and lipoma recurred. A month back again it got infected & i had another surgery in same place. a hole was left to drain the fluid/ collection. it had healed & was pressing it in perimeter to see if collection is there. I guess i pressed too hard and it got infected again. I am unable to understand the root cause.

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

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph.  I agree that it is unusual to have recurrence of lipomas and infections so quickly after surgery and I would voice your concerns with your surgeon.  Lipomas require complete removal of all adipose tissue under sterile conditions to limit the chance of recurrence while antibiotics before and after the procedure can help limit infectious risk.  Hope this helps.

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Reoccurring Lipoma and getting infected - root cause? (photo)

Answers (2)

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