Do I Have to Get Lipomas Surgically Removed?

Hello!  Lipomas are benign fatty tumors.  They are best served being surgically excised, but do not necessarily need to be removed if that is what they truly are.  This will significantly reduce the possibility that it will return.  Depending on the size and location, they may be removed under simple local anesthesia and possibly in the office.  I would discuss the options with a plastic surgeon who can examine you and discuss the options and procedure.  Almost routinely they are outpatient procedures.  There are other things that this soft tissue mass may be and it is wisest to have it examined prior to consideration for any surgical excision.Liposuction, although an option, is not a great modality due to the recurrence rate as well as not knowing what this mass actually is.  Steroids is not an honored treatment for lipomas.  Cost will vary upon the examination of the mass, location and complexity of the mass, and will increase if done at a surgery center and use of anesthesia.  Thank you for your question.  Hope that his helps!

Lipomas are benign fatty tumors and usually to not require removal. Many people have them removed for aesthetic reasons. Others have them removed because of fear that the lipoma may in fact be something more serious. There are other tumors that can masquerade as lipomas, so if you are concerned you should have your surgeon evaluate it under a direct exam.

Lipoma removal is usually performed with surgical removal. Surgical
removal of lipoma may create unsightly scar for the patient, especially
on ethnic skin. Some physicians are now using ThermiRF, a Radiofrequency
(RF) energy device to heat lipoma. These physicians report lipoma
removal or reduction using ThermiRF. ThermiRF lipoma removal treatment
is considered “off label”. This may be an alternative. Consult with your doctor to see if ThermiRF can help you.

Lipomas are diagnosed based on clinical examination or diagnostic studies. You should always seek the advice of an experienced surgeon who will identify whether the lump is clinically suspicious for malignancy or whether it appears, by history and exam, to be consistent with a benign lipoma.
If it is a lipoma, it rarely will improve with time. Delay in treatment only makes it more difficult as the lesion increases in size and becomes more intimately involved with adjacent structures.
Most experienced plastic surgeons will remove lipomas with small, well hidden, and discretely placed scars.

Since lipomas are noncancerous, they do not require any treatment.
However, if a lipoma becomes bothersome, infected, or continues to grow, you may chose to have it removed. Your doctor would simply excise the lipoma by making an incision to the area.

I counsel patients with small lipomas that it is perfectly reasonable to just watch them over time.  If they are small right now and don't bother you now, they may stay small and never bother you. Unfortunately, you don't know if they will get bigger until they get bigger.  Finally, the smaller the lipoma is, the smaller the scar will be from removal.  So, its a pretty good example of a Catch-22.

Hi Anon,

You don't have to have lipomas removed. They're not cancerous or dangerous. If the lipomas bother you it is usually relatively simple to have them surgically removed. There are no alternatives to surgery to remove the lipomas.

If there is any doubt about the diagnosis or if the lipomas become painful or rapidly increases in size please seek medical advice to confirm that your lumps are truly lipomas.

Good luck with your decision!

Lipomas are benign growths that can be left alone as they do not have cancer potential. They may stay the same size or sometimes grow a little. They are typically cut out by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon, although liposuction can also work on larger lipomas. It is important to have the diagnosis verified by your physician to make sure it is nothing more serious than a lipoma.

You don't need to remove lipomas unless they are a cosmetic problem. Since they do tend to grow a little over time what I tell patients is the sooner you get the out the smaller the scar will be. If they are small they can be done in the office under local anesthesia.

Hello,
All soft lumps are not lipomas and lipomas can grow to a large size and become deforming. You need professional evaluation and advice to figure whether or not your particular issue should be managed by surgery or observation.