Anxious about lipoma removal

Question

I am a 32 year old man. I've had a lipoma near my left ribcage for 15 years. It has grown very slowly in that time and there has never been any pain, symptoms related. No other health problems. I am having the lipoma removed next week, and during the consultation the dr. said she doesn't expect anything negative. Still, I'm nervous about the biopsy. Given how long I've had it, with no symptoms and normal blood work, it's probably unlikely to be something more serious than lipoma, right?

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.  In most cases lipomas can be readily identified by physical exam with the overwhelming majority not causing any issues with removal.  Hope this helps.

Amit Gupta, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

No one can say its going to be safe or not based on the history. you should undergo removal of lipoma at the earliest & send that for biopsy. However, lipoma have not been known to become sinister over a long term period & in most of the cases it will just turn out to be a simple lipoma. Don't be scared & do undergo this procedure as soon as you can.

Anxious about lipoma removal

Answers (3)

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