I have a 1 cm lipoma on the front of my thigh that I am thinking about getting removed but I'm worried about the complications of surgery and cutting into the skin. How deep is the incision for removing a lipoma and is there a chance I will have complications and neuropathy from a damaged nerve during the removal? Thank you!
August 26, 2018
Answer: 1cm lipoma removal and neuropathy Small lipomas lying in the fat under the skin are usually easily removed with local anaesthetic and a small incision. Unless there is a known significant nerve related to the lipoma significant damage to a nerve is very unlikely. Occasionally larger lipomas can be related to significant or large nerves which can lead to a risk to the nerve. However, usually the lipoma is pushing the nerve away rather than 'stuck' to the nerve so separating the two is not difficult for an experienced surgeon.If the diagnosis of benign lipoma is confirmed then it may not be necessary to remove small lipomas that are asymptomatic and not growing. Clearly avoiding surgery avoids the risk of surgical complications.You should seek the advice of a suitably trained and experienced plastic surgeon with experience in the diagnosis and management of lipomas and lumps. If you do not have a lipoma removed but a 'lipoma' continues to grow, changes or becomes painful it should be re-assessed as the original diagnosis of lipoma could have been wrong or the diagnosis may have changed.Best wishes.
Helpful
August 26, 2018
Answer: 1cm lipoma removal and neuropathy Small lipomas lying in the fat under the skin are usually easily removed with local anaesthetic and a small incision. Unless there is a known significant nerve related to the lipoma significant damage to a nerve is very unlikely. Occasionally larger lipomas can be related to significant or large nerves which can lead to a risk to the nerve. However, usually the lipoma is pushing the nerve away rather than 'stuck' to the nerve so separating the two is not difficult for an experienced surgeon.If the diagnosis of benign lipoma is confirmed then it may not be necessary to remove small lipomas that are asymptomatic and not growing. Clearly avoiding surgery avoids the risk of surgical complications.You should seek the advice of a suitably trained and experienced plastic surgeon with experience in the diagnosis and management of lipomas and lumps. If you do not have a lipoma removed but a 'lipoma' continues to grow, changes or becomes painful it should be re-assessed as the original diagnosis of lipoma could have been wrong or the diagnosis may have changed.Best wishes.
Helpful
