Is the lipoma on the side of my head supposed to feel hard? (Photo)

Question

Hey, I am 19 year old and I went to the hospital because I felt a soft knot in my head and they did a CT scan and they said it was a lipoma on the right side of my head, and then said I need to get it removed so now I’m waiting for the surgeon to call me. But now my lipoma is getting hard and it’s very painful is that normal? And getting big too, thank u so much!

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

Lipomas do not feel hard.  It is possible that there was some mild trauma to the area when you had your CT scan, and this may have caused the area to get slightly bigger and feel more firm.  The surgeon you are going to see should be able to examine the bump on your head and determine treatment options for you.  It is very likely that the mass can be easily removed.

Jeremy S. Hurren, BSc, MBBS, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

Lipomas are most often soft. A lump that becomes hard and painful over a short length of time is much less likely to be a lipoma. On the scalp an infected epidermal cyst is a common cause of a hard lump and if infected would become tender. There are many other possibilities so I advise you to seek the advice of a suitably trained and experienced plastic surgeon.Best wishes

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