Should I See a Plastic Surgeon or an Orthopedic Doctor for Injection Treatment of Lipoma in Wrist?

Question

I had what was believed to be a ganglion cyst removed from my wrist and the area cleaned up arthroscopically 3 years ago, it turned out to be a lipoma instead (I'm well aware this is rare and I know for a fact it wasn't a cyst I have the pathology report), over the past year and a half the lesion has returned. In such a small space the excision left enough for it to recur, I'd like to try a noninvasive approach (the process took a year to recover from last time) but don't know who to ask.

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

Luis Villar, MD, FACS · Answer

If this is a lipoma, it may be removed through a stab wound incision. There are plastic surgeons and orthopedic surgeons who specialize in hand surgery. Best wishes. Knowledge is power. Luis F. Villar MD FACS

Michael I. Echavez, MD · Answer

There are some plastic surgeons that specialize in hand surgery and there are also some orthopedic surgeons that specialize in hands as well. I would say the important issue would be just finding a surgeon in either specialty that has a lot of experience with hands. You could try getting a referral from your regular medical doctor.

Should I See a Plastic Surgeon or an Orthopedic Doctor for Injection Treatment of Lipoma in Wrist?

Answers (3)

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