Painful subQ lipoma in sacral area - what type of doctor should I be seeing?

Question

I have a painful, soft lump in my sacral area.. Ultrasound shows 4.6 x 4 x .12 cm in size, slightly hypo-echoic subQ mass. Heat, pressure, and exercises that require glute extension all hurt. Have had it dry needled w anesthetic twice, which makes all the pain go away for 2-3 weeks. Was advised it likely needs removal. Was handed to a general surgery PA who said it couldn’t be a problem and to deal w it. What type of Dr should I be seeing?

Robert M. Lowen, MD · Answer

Lipomas should not be painful.  I would suggest you get an MRI to better characterize the nature of the lump and see if is consistent with a benign lipoma, or something else.  Depending on the findings,  you may need a FNA, fine needle aspirate.  If benign, a general or plastic surgeon could remove it.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Painful subQ lipoma in sacral area - what type of doctor should I be seeing?

Answers (2)