How can I get rid of a lipoma without surgery?

Question

I am 25years 5 feet tall and 59 kgs (overweight). I have lipoma in the right underarm (up and down). How to get rid of it without doing surgery. Is it harmful if I don't do anything and keep it as it is. Or else to get rid of it only by exercise

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

William Ting, MD · Answer

Lipoma is a benign entity and can be left alone unless it bothers you cosmetically or medically. Seek out a liposuction surgeon who has experience in removing lipoma using tumescent liposuction technique where the scarring would involve a couple small marks with recovery taking a couple days. On the other hand if the 'lipoma' appears to be steadily growing, then surgical excision may be advisable where specimen can be submitted for pathology to rule out liposarcoma, i.e. the rare malignant cousin of lipoma.

Timothy Mountcastle, MD · Answer

in my opinion liposuction doesnt remove all the fatty cells of the lipoma and they have a much higher tendency to grow back.

	 

	i have removed 4 lipomas this year previously removed by liposuction.

	 

	have them surgically excised. they have a pseudo capsule which comes out easily.

	 

	now lipomas in the neck can be lipouction as they dont have pseudocapsules most of the time.

Benjamin Barankin, MD, FRCPC · Answer

A lipoma is a benign fat collection, and the diagnosis should be made by a physician. If it is a true lipoma, it is entirely harmless but can be surgically cut out with usually a small scar. Occasionally, a lipoma can be injected by experienced physicians with a fat-dissolving agent such as deoxycholate or even cortisone.

Samir Shureih, MD · Answer

Lipoma is a benign accumulation of fat. However there is a malignant tumor of the fat and is called liposarcoma. These are usually large, and fast growing.
If you are sure this is a lipoma then you can leave it. If not sure, then either a biopsy or removal is mandatory to obtain a diagnosis.
There are other things that can cause a lump or growth. it must be diiagnosed by a trained physician, and an MRI may be done to help in diagnosis.
See your Friendly Board Certified PS.

Marcus L. Peterson, MD · Answer

The soft tissue mass you describe under your arm can be some thing other than a lipoma. A lipoma does not have a significant risk to watching and taking care of it when you are ready but some other type of mass may need more urgent attention.  A lipoma can be removed or decreased with liposuction. Another type of mass will require direct excision and pathology diagnosis. 
Make sure you have seen a surgeon that can help you make this distinction so you are not doing anything that will hurt you.
Best Wishes
Dr. Peterson

How can I get rid of a lipoma without surgery?

Answers (6)

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