Lipomas Specialist

What is a lipoma?

Lipomas are fatty tumors that most often occur between your skin and underlying muscle. They can appear anywhere but are common on the:

• Neck
• Armpits
• Upper thighs
• Back
• Abdomen
  
  

You may develop one or several lipomas of varying size. They usually move freely when you press on them, feel soft and doughy, and don’t usually cause discomfort. Depending on where they occur, however, they can irritate nearby nerves.

Lipomas usually grow slowly and are typically less than 2 inches in diameter but may grow as large as 8 inches or more in diameter. And even when they remain small, a 2-inch lump under the skin may cause cosmetic concerns.

What causes lipomas?

Lipomas are an overgrowth of fat cells that clump together and form a lump. It’s not clear, however, what causes this to occur. Genetics seems to play a role since they often run in families. Age is also a factor since most lipomas occur between the ages of 40-60, but you can develop a lipoma at any age.

Can lipomas be cancerous?

A true lipoma is almost never cancerous. There are certain cancers, including liposarcoma and other soft tissue sarcomas, that cause cancerous tumors to form in fatty tissue and muscles. Therefore, it’s important that you have any lumps or bumps checked by a physician.

What is the treatment for lipomas?

Lipomas often require removal because they are painful, affect muscle development, or cause abnormal appearance.

Larger lipomas can usually be easily removed with liposuction. For this type of procedure, your surgeon makes a small incision over the lipoma before inserting a thin hollow tube called a cannula into the growth. The cannula is used to break up the fat and vacuum it away.

However, lipomas treated with liposuction can grow back. Your surgeon may, therefore, recommend removal via surgical excision. For either procedure, you’ll receive an injection to numb the area and can expect to go home the same day with instructions on how to care for the incision site until you return for suture removal.

For further discussion regarding lipoma removal, schedule an appointment at Chicago Surgical Clinic today. Feel free to call the office or use the convenient online booking tool.