How long does a lipoma on the forehead take to heal after 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

Thank you for your question.  Much of this will depend on the size of the lipoma and the location of the incision to remove it.  Because of its rich blood supply the face and forehead tend to heal very quickly and you should be able to wear a helmet by two weeks after surgery.  Hope this helps. 

Lipomas on the face can be removed and expected to heal within 2 weeks due to the rich blood supply. You should be able to wear your helmet within 10-14 daysDr Karamanoukian

That will depend on how large it is, and what your recovery is like.In general, for a small (1-2 cm or so) lipoma on the forehead, which is where they often occur, I would think that with a normal procedure and recovery you could wear a helmet within a week or so.However, the larger the lipoma is and, of course, if there are problems healing, the longer the recovery would be.You should speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can examine you in person and give you more specific advice and recommendations.I hope that this helps and good luck,Dr. Alan EnglerMember of #RealSelf100