Forehead lipoma removal: botox, glue x stitches and laser treatments? (Photo)

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

1) There is a minimal difference between glue and stitches. Do whichever the surgeon has the most experience with.2) There are not really benefits to having Botox months before the surgery. I recommend getting Botox a couple of weeks before the surgery to immediately after the surgery to relax the muscles and the scar. 3) I recommend waiting 6 months after surgery to get a peel or laser.

There are lots of great options to help minimize scarring on the forehead after lipoma removal. Besides Botox, silicone sheets, IPL and laser treatments, also discuss a pretrichial or hair-bearing scalp incision to place the scar into the hair, as opposed to onto the hairliness skin of the forehead. Lipomas located relatively close to the hairline may be amenable to this treatment, and if your anatomy allows for this, this treatment planning may help minimize scarring too.