I Have a Lipoma on my Neck and It's About the Size of a Golf Ball - What Should I Do?

Question

Well i have a Lipoma on my neck from what my docter said. It's been causing me neck pain for a while now. So what do you think i should do. Also i should say i'm only about 16 and nobody else in my family...that i know of has one.

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

Benjamin Barankin, MD, FRCPC · Answer

Go see your dermatologist or plastic surgeon to make a proper diagnosis as it could be other things like an epidermoid cyst, swollen lymph node, etc. Once a proper diagnosis is made, if it is a lipoma, you can either leave it since it is benign/harmless, or have it cut out. No other great options for treatment. The scar should be fairly small.

Khaled El-Hoshy, MD · Answer

Lipomas are benign growths. However, if you are having pain, it would be easy to remove it under local anaesthesia. Please have your dermatologist, surgeon evaluate it clinically, & then you can proceed with the removal, as needed. Sometimes cysts, or a rare condition called cystic hygroma, can be mistaken clinically for a lipoma.

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

We do not know where exactly in the neck your lipoma is. Removal of the lipoma and submitting for pathology is the safe way to proceed

Richard Galitz, MD, FACS (in memoriam) · Answer

While lipomas are benign and except for their unsightliness can usually be ignored the fact that yours causes pain is a bit troublesome.....I would suggest seeing a qualified head and neck surgeon or ENT surgeon and have it removed

I Have a Lipoma on my Neck and It's About the Size of a Golf Ball - What Should I Do?

Answers (5)

Answer: Lipoma

Answer: Lipoma

Answer: Neck lipoma

Answer: Neck lipoma

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Lipoma Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

I Have a Lipoma on my Neck and It's About the Size of a Golf Ball - What Should I Do?

Answers (5)

Answer: Lipoma

Answer: Lipoma

Answer: Neck lipoma

Answer: Neck lipoma

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Lipoma Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.