How is a lipoma treated?

Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
Updated on September 19, 2024
00:00
00:00

Lipomas are commonly seen in clinical practice and are a type of superficial tumor that are benign. They frequently occur on the limbs and trunk. Lipomas are located subcutaneously and are composed of fatty tissue. If the lipoma is small and the patient does not exhibit any significant clinical symptoms, conservative observation can be adopted as a treatment method. If the lipoma is relatively large, grows rapidly, or is accompanied by concealed pain, surgical treatment can be considered. Clinically, lipomas can be excised under local anesthesia; medication or massage are both ineffective.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
38sec home-news-image

Will the removal of a lipoma leave a scar?

The removal of a lipoma generally does not significantly affect wound recovery, as the incision for a lipoma is a clean cut with no infection or contamination. However, some patients may develop significant scarring not due to infection but due to their scar-prone nature. Over time, the scarring from such cuts does not decrease in these patients, and corrective cosmetic surgery might be necessary to address the prominent scars. Therefore, it is important to consult with patients before lipoma surgery to determine if they are prone to scarring. If not, normal lipoma removal does not usually leave noticeable scars.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
34sec home-news-image

Can lipomas be massaged?

Lipomas are relatively common surface tumors, commonly found on the limbs and trunk. Composed of adipose tissue and located subcutaneously, it is advised against massaging a lipoma. First, massaging a lipoma will not cause it to dissipate. Secondly, prolonged massaging of a lipoma might lead to stimulation and possibly to gradual growth of the tumor. Clinically, lipomas can be treated surgically, which is relatively straightforward to perform under local anesthesia by excising the lipoma, thus curing it.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
36sec home-news-image

What should I do if my lipoma hurts?

Lipomas are relatively common in clinical settings and are benign tumors on the body surface, often found on the limbs and trunk. Generally, they don't cause obvious clinical symptoms except for the appearance of a lump under the skin. The lump is usually flat, and the skin surface remains intact, though this is not absolute. Some patients may experience pain in the lipoma, particularly when lipomas appear symmetrically on the limbs, causing localized pain. In such cases, surgical treatment is recommended, which can be performed under local anesthesia to remove the lipoma and alleviate the pain.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ma Xian Shi
General Surgery
49sec home-news-image

Do lipomas hurt?

Lipoma is a common clinical disease characterized by tumor-like normal adipose tissue, often occurring in the limbs and trunk. It has clearly defined margins, is lobulated, soft in texture, and may feel like a pseudocyst, with no pain symptoms. The growth is slow, and some can grow quite large. Deep-seated lipomas can potentially become malignant and should be surgically removed promptly. Another type is the painful lipoma, which often occurs in patients with a family history. These tumors are usually smaller and commonly distributed symmetrically. However, most lipoma patients do not experience pain symptoms; it is only the painful lipomas that are painful. These are also characterized by a family history, symmetrical distribution, and smaller size.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
43sec home-news-image

Symptoms of lipoma malignancy

Lipomas are considered benign lesions, but some lipomas may undergo malignant transformation into liposarcomas. If a lipoma becomes malignant, its appearance may change, such as an increase in size, indistinct borders, hardening of the lipoma, and it may even cause pain in the area of the lipoma, with the possibility of local thrombosis and other conditions. It is necessary to visit a hospital promptly for examination and treatment. When necessary, the lipoma should be completely excised and sent for pathological examination to facilitate further treatment. If it is confirmed to be malignant, a wider excision may be needed, and, if necessary, the surrounding lymph nodes may need to be cleared.