Lipoma on the leg or not? (Photos)

Question

Hello, I have visited some doctors and some told me do not care about that, but I can't as sometimes I do runway shows, so I need to have perfect legs. I went to vein clinics and they told me that it's not a vein, they even scanned that. And they think that it's fatty tissue. So before to continue to go for consultation, I would like to know to which doctor to go and can it be called lipoma?

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 and photographs.  Unfortunately without an in-person examination it is difficult to offer a true diagnosis but this could be a lipoma or inclusion cysts.  In either case I would advise seeing an ASPS board certified plastic surgeon in consultation to discuss excision.  Hope this helps.

Helena Guarda, MD · Answer

Lipomas and cysts can appear very similar. They are both benign and can both appear on your legs. I recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon. After physical examination they will be able to make recommendations for excision. If your are concerned about scarring make sure to ask about the final size of the scar.

Best of luck

Best of luck

Lipoma on the leg or not? (Photos)

Answers (3)