Could the lipoma on ribs that regrew in less than a year be more than a simple lipoma?

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 sharing your excellent question.  It would be unusual to have a lipoma grow to that size so quickly and they are not routinely tender to the touch.  I would recommend seeing your surgeon for an in-person examination to obtain a diagnosis and discuss future treatment options.  Hope this helps.