Hard Lump in Lip After Fat Transfer?

   The area of fat necrosis in the lip will probably improve with time.   The area can be excised as well.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Dear Blondie22,


I would ask your doctor what he/she thinks

If the lump is getting better then it will continue to improve

A very dilute steroid injection may also help


Best regards,

Nima Shemirani

The hard area is fat necrosis. That is to say a piece of fat that did not recieve blood flow and died. It needs to be excised. No other way...So Sorry!

You most likely have some degree of fat necrosis.  These lumps typically get hard, then over time soften and shrink significantly.  Your doctor's suggestion to wait it out is the most reasonable option if it is not significantly deforming.  Steroid injection does not come without risk.  While it may shrink it faster, it can leave a dent or cause loss of skin color.  You have to seriously weigh your options before proceeding. All the best.

At just two months after fat grafting it is too early to do anything just yet. While it can be injected by steroids be aware that could cause the opposite problem...fat resorption and a divot in the lip. I would give it at least 3 to 4 months before doing a very dilute steroid injection. An alternative is a 5-FU injection which has no risk of too much atrophy.

After 2 months from fat transfer to the lip, a lump could be fat necrosis, or an oil cyst. The treatment is different for either one of them.

If it is fat necrosis, then direct excision is best. a cyst can be aspirated with a needle.