What is a lipoma?

Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
Updated on September 10, 2024
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Lipoma is a type of benign tumor, classified as a superficial disorder. Its tissue is composed of fatty tissue. Patients often develop a lump under the skin, which has clear boundaries and the skin surface does not show swelling or ulceration. Generally, the lump is lobular or flat in shape. Since lipoma is a benign tumor, it can typically be managed by regular check-ups. If the lipoma is relatively large, or if there is localized concealed pain, surgical removal can be performed under local anesthesia.

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Do lipomas need to be treated?

Whether a lipoma needs treatment depends on its location, size, shape, and presence of symptoms. If the lipoma is small and symptom-free, it generally does not require treatment. Lipomas are benign lesions formed by abnormal growth of subcutaneous fat and rarely become cancerous. However, if the lipoma is large, causing compressive symptoms, or noticeably growing fast over a short period, along with local pain, it should be considered for complete excision under local anesthesia. After removal, it is generally necessary to send the specimen for pathological examination, and depending on the situation, decide whether to place a drainage tube at the wound site.

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Do lipomas infect other people?

Lipomas are non-contagious and are tumorous formations of normal fatty tissue, often found in the limbs and trunk. They generally have clear boundaries, are soft in texture, and may feel cystic without causing pain. Lipomas grow slowly and can sometimes become very large. For most lipomas, observation is sufficient, and diagnosis can be confirmed through ultrasonography. Most patients do not require surgical treatment. However, if there is suspicion of malignancy in deeper lipomas, timely surgical removal is necessary. For lipomas that grow rapidly, cause symptoms, or affect appearance, early surgical intervention is also recommended. If pathology confirms the diagnosis, some lipomas may be liposarcomas. Most can be assessed for risk, and further treatment might be needed.

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Do lipomas hurt when pressed?

For most lipomas, there is no pain when pressed. Lipomas are formed due to excessive proliferation of subcutaneous fat, with clear boundaries and very good mobility, and there is no pain upon pressing. If the lipoma is small or there are multiple lipomas, there is no need for excessive attention or surgical treatment in everyday life. Of course, excessive massaging or rubbing should be avoided. If pain occurs when pressing the lipoma, or if the lipoma is relatively large and grows significantly in a short period, surgical removal should be considered. Generally, the lipoma can be completely removed under local anesthesia.

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Is lipoma serious?

Lipoma is a common disease in clinical practice, and it is generally not very serious, so there is no need for excessive worry. A lipoma is a tumor-like mass of normal tissue, commonly found on the trunk and limbs of the body. It has a clear boundary and is lobulated, soft, and may feel like a false cyst, painless, and grows slowly. Some can be quite large. Deep lipomas that might turn malignant should be removed promptly. Generally speaking, lipomas only require surgical treatment if there is suspicion of malignancy, if the tumor is large enough to affect daily life or aesthetics, or if malignancy is suspected.

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General Surgery
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Do lipomas grow?

Lipoma is a type of tumor on the surface of the body, which is relatively common in clinical practice and often occurs in the limbs and trunk. After the development of a lipoma, a mass generally appears under the skin; the mass is tough and lobulated or flat, and the surface skin remains intact, which can be used to diagnose a lipoma. Once a lipoma develops, it may grow larger, but the growth rate is generally slow, and there are usually no obvious clinical symptoms. If a patient notices that the lipoma is enlarging, surgical removal can be considered.