What Type of Doctor Should I Consult About Lipoma Removal?

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 simply small masses of fatty tissue.  They are not cancerous and removal is strictly a cosmetic issue.  They can occur anywhere on the body.  They can be very small or very large.  Smaller lipomas are usually removed by making a small incision and simply removing them.  Very large lipomas may be removed using liposuction in order to avoid a large scar.  The primary risk of removing a lipoma is that they have a possiblity of returning if the entire lipoma is not removed.  Any surgeon can remove a lipoma, however, a plastic surgeon may give you the best chance for a thin, well-hidden scar.

Many different types of doctors remove lipomas. Typically, any lipoma of the face should be removed by a plastic surgeon.  Plastic surgeons tend to have the most training in regards to wound closure, and are the most meticulous when it comes to ensuring that the scar looks as good as possible.  Lipomas of the trunk or limbs could also be removed by a general surgeon, a hand surgeon, or an orthopedic surgeon.