I Was Diagnosed by my Physician a Lipoma. Can RF or Liposuction Take Care of Lipoma in Thigh?

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

To ensure low recurrence rate, the complete excision of the lipoma and the thin layered capsule is required. With excessively large lipomas or diffuse lipomatosis disease, patient's may benefit from debulking with liposuction although the recurrence rate is much higher because the capsule is not removed by this method. 

Lipoma removal may be very effective with direct excision, extraction through a limited incision, by liposuction, but less effective by radiofrequency alone.  The recurrence rate increases with the less aggressive techniques.  That being said, I have had very good results using extraction through a limited incision under local anesthesia.

I believe that the only one who can officially diagnose a lipoma is a pathologist, and the only way that can be done is to send a specimen to the lab.  I do not think that RF will sufficiently remove the lipoma, but more importanly it will not allow a diagnosis.

As a rule, I prefer removal with direct excision, or in some cases liposuction.

Excision of lipoma is most likely the best option although I have liposuctioned lipomas with a good result.  I have also observed a substantial decrease in the size of lipomas after several treatments with RF.  I did not assess the client in follow-up months after RF, therefore cannot relate evidence of total resolution of lipoma.

Thank you