What are the chances of nerve damage from lipoma removal?

Question

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!

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Mist lipomas are right under the skin so surgery can be performed under local anesthesia.  In many cases they can be removed through a tiny incision and popped out like a pimple.  Injury to a nerve is very unlikely.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  Based on your narrative’s location description, the chance of any nerve injury is small.  Most lipomas are found superficial to the skin surface and do not require a significant incision for removal.  I would recommend seeking out a local plastic surgeon who can take care of your lipoma with a small, in-office procedure.  Hope this helps.

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

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.

What are the chances of nerve damage from lipoma removal?

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