I have a tennis ball size lipoma on my inner thigh. I'm getting it removed soon. How long is the recovery`/

Thigh lipomas present some challenges and patients should recommend that the lipomas are assessed by a pathologist to rule out other tumors. Our office specializes in lipoma removal surgery on the extremities.  Recovery is relatively short. Raffy Karamanoukian MD FACS

Lipomas have nothing to do with varicose veins.  My suggestion is you address these questions with your physician.  If you do not have these answered already, I would consider a second opinion.  Best, Dr. Emer.

A lipoma is not related to varicose veins but the first thing is to make sure that it's a lipoma and not somehow an extension of the veins.  You should therefore have consultations with, first, a vascular specialist to outline the treatment for the veins (you'll undoubtedly need tests such as a Doppler ultrasound of the veins to see the degree of valvular incompetence) and, secondarily, a plastic surgeon to discuss treatment of the lipoma.While lipoma removal itself is not necessarily a "large" procedure it is nevertheless a surgical procedure and has to be treated as such.  That means that if it is very large (tennis ball size would be large) then you may need a drain to adequate evacuate the space once it's removed or, at least, have that area monitored carefully post-op to make sure that fluid does not accumulate.  Activity should be restricted for about three weeks post-op or until your surgeon gives you the go-ahead, and I advise my patients to avoid taking anti-platelet medications (such as aspirin and ibuprofen) for at least 3 weeks before and after surgery (that duration is not universally agreed-upon).I would probably not want to remove the lipoma at the same time that you're having the veins done but that's a decision you and your doctors can make after having the conditions evaluated.I hope that this helps and good luck,Dr. Alan EnglerMember of RealSelf100