I have a lipoma on the left side of my eyebrow on the top. How can I remove it and is it safe? (Photo)

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 your question and photograph.  If an in-person exam corroborates that the mass is a lipoma it is best to pursue curative removal through a small in-office surgical procedure.  This can be done with local anesthesia and is quite safe.  Hope this helps.  

   It will be important to establish a diagnosis first if there is any doubt after physical exam.Kenneth Hughes, MDBeverly Hills, CA

As was mentioned earlier, not all masses are lipomas.  That being said, a good physical exam and history should be able to give your doctor a good idea about what it may be.  In regards to the procedure, it is safe and can be done in 30-45 minutes.  the incision can be hidden within one of the wrinkles of the forehead without a problem.  The only thing to know is that with lipomas that get excised from the forehead you can get quite some swelling over both brows and eyes that can last a week.  There are also other treatment options depending on size and location within the tissue - it is best to discuss all these options with your surgeon at the time of consultation.  Hope that helped. 

Not all masses on the forehead are lipomas, but it is a common cause of this problem.  If the mass on your forehead is a lipoma, it could safely be removed surgically.  I would see a facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon in your area.