Will the dent after lipoma removal fill in on it's own?

Question

I had a dent on the side of my thigh that turned out to be a lipoma (my lipoma did not stick out but rather sunk in causing a "hole"). I had it completely removed bc the MRI looked bad (results were benign) my surgeon said once removed the dent should go away since lipoma isn't pulling anymore. It's been 1.5 months since surgery and although the dent does look less deep/circular, it's still there and I haven't noticed improvement with the dent since surgery. Will this dent fill in over time?

Lewis Albert Andres, MD · Answer

Hello!  Thank you for your question!  Contour deformities after removal of tissue (such as a lipoma), typically resolve on its own.  It takes several months alone for the swelling to resolve and to allow adequate settling/remodeling of tissue as well as the scar itself. At merely 6 weeks post-procedure, it is quite early for the final result to be seen.  It takes from 6-12months for all of the aforementioned things to settle, and you should await this time period prior to any surgical consideration.  Discuss your concerns with your surgeon and get recommendations to ameliorate the area.  I typically recommend scar massage and some compression.  If a capsule or contour deformity develops after this time period, various modalities may be implemented including re-excision, scar revision, fat grafting, steroids, etc...but I hope that you will be pleasantly surprised of the results even after a few more months.  Best wishes!

J. Jason Wendel, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.I recommend waiting a minimum of 6 months, preferably a year before making any decisions on this.  1.5 months is early in the healing process.

A return visit to your surgeon could be beneficial for reassurance.

I hope this helps.

Emily J. Kirby, MD · Answer

Since it has only been 1.5 months since your surgery, you have approximately 10.5 months to remodel the scar before it really stabilizes to its final appearance.  I recommend scar massage to my patients using a cream (not lotion) with high oil content, such as Eucerin crème.  When you put the cream on, gently massage the area of the scar and surrounding skin, working deeper and deeper with your pressure each time you do it.  If you do this several times a day for the next several months, you will likely notice less of a contour irregularity.  Good luck!

Will the dent after lipoma removal fill in on it's own?

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Will the dent after lipoma removal fill in on it's own?

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Everything you need to know about Lipoma Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.