Can I Have a Lipoma Removed at the Emergencey Room?

Question

Can I have a Lipoma removed at the Emergencey Room? I had it diagnosed 8 years ago, and dont have a personal Dr. anymore.

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

Michael A. Zadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

Generally emergency room physicians do not remove lipomas. You can make an appointment with a general surgeon and depending on the size/location of the lipoma he/she can remove it either in the office or in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia.

Dina D. Strachan, MD · Answer

It is unlikely that they will remove your lipoma in the emergency room as this is not an emergency diagnosis. If they were to do it there, it would likely be much more expensive, and likely less cosmetically pleasing, than it would be if you were to go to a dermatologist, surgeon, or plastic surgeon. It is generally a simple, in office procedure depending on size and location.

Walter D. Gracia, MD · Answer

Since a Lipoma removal is not an emergency it should not be removed in an ER setting. In today's ER's in a major city this would not be allowed. It was permitted 30 years ago in some hospitals but I do not think that it would be allowed today except perhaps in a smaller city and if it was prearranged.

Douglas J. Mackenzie, MD · Answer

The answer is no. Assuming this is a typical lipoma, any general surgeon or plastic surgeon could take this out in their office under local anesthesia. You could probably get it done for a few hundred dollars out of pocket.

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

The Emergency Room is not an operating room, The emergency room is not to be used as your primary care .

	See your Family Physician who can refer you to the appropriate specialist.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

I once saw them do a liver transplant in the ER on TV as if the ER is the hub of all hospital activity. This is not true and all surgery should be done in a proper OR by a real surgeon, not an ER doctor.

Can I Have a Lipoma Removed at the Emergencey Room?

Answers (7)

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