I just had a lipoma removed and the surgeon said it had several smaller lipomas and one larger 3x 5cm. Should I be worried?

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

It is not unusual for some people to have several lipomas.  In fact, having multiple lipomas can run in families.  Just make sure that whatever is removed is sent to a laboratory for a pathologist to review.

It is not unusual for lipomas to grow like fingers, it is important the lipoma be removed in total.the most important part is what the pathology report show.

Not necessarily.  Assuming it is a benign growth (most are; the specimen was presumably sent to Pathology for examination) it is not uncommon to have a lobulated growth or even multiple apparently discrete lipomas in what appear to be a single location.  For that reason it is important to check and recheck the surgical site (this is something the surgeon should do - not you!) even after one lipoma has been removed to try to avoid precisely this situation.  The main thing, though, is assuring that the Pathology is benign.I hope that this helps and good luck,Dr. Alan EnglerMember of RealSelf100