Lipoma on Leg - Removal Recovery and Process

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

Lipomas are extremely common and represent benign fatty tumors. Removal potentially can be performed either in office or in an outpatient center under local anesthesia and is a relatively minor procedure.

You will have sutures which may even all be deep to the skin. Returning to work or school can even be the same day. I would recommend avoiding working out at least for several days

Lipoma removal is done in an outpatient surgical setting. It is typically done with local anesthesia and involves a small incision to remove the lipoma. There is typically a subcutaneous suture with steri strips and you should be back at the gym within a week. This procedure is typically covered by insurance and has a quick recovery with immediate results. You should be able to return to work the following day or even the day of the procedure. I do remove a fair amount of lipomas in my practice and commonly multiple lipomas in a single session. If you have any further direct questions you would like answered please feel free to reach me via email listed below. Best regards!

Hi Tucson4362,

Depending on the size of the lipoma, one or more small incisions are typically made and then the lipoma (a benign, fatty tumor) is removed.  In my practice it is almost always done in the office under a little local anesthesia. I advise patients not to exercise for about 3 weeks after any surgical procedure, and even including this one.  The smaller the lipoma, though, the less this is likely to be an issue.  It takes about 30-45 minutes and is not overly uncomfortable.

A few sutures are often used but if it's very small, even that may not be necessary.

Once you do go back to the gym, I would advise that you start slowly and advance as tolerated (ie, don't go for that 30 mile trek on the first day back).

I hope that this helps, and good luck,

Dr. E