Are multiple lipomas common?

Yes, having more than one lipoma is actually fairly common. A lipoma is a benign (noncancerous) growth made up of fat cells, and while many people develop just one, others may develop several over the course of their lifetime.

There is also a hereditary condition called familial multiple lipomatosis, where multiple lipomas tend to run in families. If you have several lipomas and other close relatives—such as a parent or sibling—have them as well, there may be a genetic predisposition. These lipomas typically begin appearing in early or middle adulthood and can slowly increase in number over time.

Most lipomas:

Feel soft and rubbery
Move easily under the skin
Grow slowly
Are usually painless

They commonly occur on the arms, shoulders, back, trunk, neck, and thighs.

Not every lump under the skin is a lipoma, however. If a lump is firm, rapidly enlarging, fixed in place, painful, or larger than about 5 cm (2 inches), it should be evaluated to make sure it is not another type of soft tissue growth.

Treatment isn't necessary unless a lipoma is causing pain, limiting movement, becoming cosmetically bothersome, or there is uncertainty about the diagnosis. In those situations, surgical removal is typically curative, and recurrence of the same lipoma after complete removal is uncommon.

So, in short, multiple lipomas are not unusual, and they can absolutely run in families. If you continue developing new ones or have a strong family history, it's worth mentioning this to your healthcare provider so they can determine whether it fits a hereditary pattern or if any additional evaluation is needed.

Asccording to GARD, the Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center:
Familial multiple lipomatosis (FML) is a rare condition that is characterized by multiple lipomas on the trunk and extremities. As the name suggests, FML is diagnosed when multiple lipomatosis occurs in more than one family member, often over several generations. The lipomas associated with FML are usually painless, but may impact quality of life as they can be numerous and large. Although the condition appears to be passed down through families in an autosomal dominant manner, the underlying genetic cause is currently unknown.
You can more information by going to their website by the link supplied.
Although uncommon in the general population, I see a lot patients with multiple lipomas, usually not familial. I remove these with a 1/4" to 3/8" incision.

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

I have treated patients for multiple lipomas and find that this occurrence is not uncommon. Usually, they are relatively small and most commonly on the arms and/or legs. It is not usually for them to be on the trunk as well. I am not certain if there is a hereditary influence on them or not.