Does a lipoma removal on your ankle need to be done by surgery only? Or can it be done with local anesthesia?

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 question. In most cases lipomas can be removed under local anesthesia. Hope this helps.

Dear Brimar12000,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Generally speaking, it is possible to remove lipoma under local anesthesia. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your question. I would need to examine you in-person to best answer your question. However, I regularly remove lipomas in our office's fully-accredited operating room under local anesthesia without the need for general anesthesia or IV sedation. I perform a minimal-scar technique for lipoma removal using a combination of liposuction and direct excision. I find a smaller scar helps patients recover quickly and is also more aesthetically pleasing. While lipomas are considered "benign" (meaning not cancerous), they have a tendency to increase in size over time and do not go away on their own. I recommend you meet with a fully-trained plastic surgeon to discuss treatment options.