Dent after forehead lipoma removal - how can I treat this? (Photo)

Question

Hello ! i got a lipome removal in 2022 unfortunately i feel like there is a “dent” or it looks like i stilk have a lipoma ball there. i went to the doctor he insists its a depression and not a lipoma i have my doubts i cant lift the eyebrow where i got the procedure done and the skin of the eyebrow

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

I can understand why you’re concerned, especially since it has been several years since the surgery and the area still feels and looks abnormal to you. What you’re describing — a visible dent, a sensation that there is still a “ball” there, and difficulty lifting the eyebrow on that side — is something that deserves a careful explanation.

Based on your photo, the contour change looks more consistent with a localized depression or tethered scar than with a recurrent lipoma, although I can’t make a definitive diagnosis from an image alone.

Why a Dent Can Happen After Lipoma Removal

When a forehead lipoma is removed, the surgeon often has to create a pocket under the skin to remove the fatty mass. If the lipoma was relatively deep, healing can leave:

Loss of volume where the lipoma was removed
Scar tissue attaching the skin down to the deeper tissues
Mild muscle or fascial disruption in the forehead

This can create a shadow or indentation that sometimes looks like a lump next to it, even though the problem is actually a depression rather than a new growth.

The Eyebrow Weakness Is the Most Important Clue

You mentioned that you cannot lift the eyebrow normally on that side and that the skin of the eyebrow feels different. That makes me think about the frontal branch of the facial nerve, which helps elevate the eyebrow.

A few possibilities:

Temporary nerve irritation from the original surgery
Scar tissue restricting movement of the frontalis muscle
Partial injury to a small nerve branch during the procedure
Less commonly, a persistent weakness that was never fully recognized

A recurrent lipoma would not usually cause difficulty lifting the eyebrow.

How to Tell the Difference

A residual or recurrent lipoma is usually:

Soft and mobile
Feels like a rubbery lump under the skin
Often becomes more noticeable when you press around it

A scar-related depression is more likely to:

Feel firm or tethered
Have a fixed indentation
Create an appearance that changes with lighting or facial expression
Be associated with tightness or restricted movement
What I Would Consider Next

Because this has been present since 2022, the most useful next step would be imaging rather than guessing.

High-Resolution Ultrasound

This is often the best first test because it can quickly show whether there is:

Residual lipoma tissue
Scar tissue
A fluid collection
A true soft-tissue defect

If the ultrasound is negative but the brow weakness is significant, an MRI of the forehead may provide more information about the deeper tissues and muscle.

If It Is a Depression

Treatment depends on the cause:

Scar Tethering
Subcision (releasing the scar attachment)
Sometimes combined with filler or fat grafting
Volume Loss
Hyaluronic acid filler can work surprisingly well for small forehead depressions
Autologous fat transfer is often preferred for larger or longer-standing defects because it restores living tissue rather than temporary volume
One Important Observation From Your Photo

The contour change appears subtle and localized rather than a prominent rounded mass protruding outward. That pattern tends to favor post-surgical contour irregularity over a persistent lipoma. I also notice that the eyebrow position looks slightly asymmetric, which supports your observation that the muscle movement may not be completely normal.

My Honest Impression

If I were evaluating this based on your history and photo, I would be more suspicious of a post-surgical depression with scar tethering and possible mild frontalis dysfunction than of a recurrent lipoma. The fact that you cannot lift the eyebrow normally is the feature I would take most seriously, and I would want that investigated rather than simply being reassured that it is “just a dent.”

The good news is that both scar-related depressions and localized volume loss can often be improved, especially once imaging confirms exactly what is happening beneath the skin. The key is determining whether the contour problem is caused by missing volume, tethered scar tissue, or altered muscle function, because each of those is treated differently.

Luis A. Mejia, MD · Answer

Thank for your question, Your inability to lift your eyebrow is a crucial functional symptom that goes beyond a basic cosmetic indentation. It strongly suggests that the frontal branch of the facial nerve or the underlying frontalis muscle was compromised or trapped in scar tissue during the procedure.
If nerve function cannot be restored, a facial plastic surgeon can perform subtle brow repositioning (or use strategic Botox on the opposite, active eyebrow) to balance your facial expressions and resting symmetry., for more information please contact us 829-745-2440.
Dr. Luis Mejia
Let's make it better

Dent after forehead lipoma removal - how can I treat this? (Photo)

Answers (2)

More Lipoma Removal Questions

Is this a removable lipoma? (Photo)

Lipoma - should I have it removed and what is involved with the procedure and recovery? (Photos)

Lipoma was removed 6 years ago and came back. What procedure will ensure that it is gone for good?

Giant lipoma removed - upper buttock, lower back. Developed a hematoma seroma and scarring - how can I help the pain? (Photos)

Lipoma under the chin - how difficult would this be to remove? (Photos)

How can I fix eyebrow paralysis and eyelid drooping after forehead lipoma removal? (Photos)

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS