Treatment of Lipoma

Written by Ma Xian Shi
General Surgery
Updated on April 03, 2025
00:00
00:00

Lipomas are a common type of benign tumor that we see clinically. Most cases are benign, and malignant transformation is very rare. Lipomas consist of normal, fatty-like tissue and primarily occur on the limbs and trunk. They have clear boundaries, are lobulated in appearance, soft in texture, and may feel like a false cyst. They are painless and grow slowly. Some can grow very large, and deep-seated ones may undergo malignant transformation and should be treated surgically in a timely manner. In terms of treatment for lipomas, medication is ineffective. Small lipomas can be monitored periodically. If a lipoma is large, affects daily life or aesthetics, or is a deep-seated lipoma that might become malignant, surgical treatment is required.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
31sec home-news-image

Can lipomas disappear?

Lipomas generally do not disappear on their own. They form due to abnormal or excessive growth in the subcutaneous fat, presenting as localized lumps with an outer membrane encapsulating them. Lipomas are typically soft with high mobility and well-defined borders. Small lipomas usually do not require surgical treatment; close monitoring to check for changes in size is sufficient. However, if a lipoma is large, causes local compression symptoms, or pain, surgical removal may be considered.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
55sec home-news-image

How to relieve the pain of a lipoma?

Lipomas are generally located in typical spots and are mostly a benign condition that does not become malignant. Lipomas have a clear capsule, are lobulated, and have a soft texture, generally not susceptible to infection causing pain. The main reasons for pain are typically frequent movement at joint areas or long-term irritation by external factors. Therefore, upon experiencing pain, different treatment measures should be adopted based on the specific situation. If the lipoma is subjected to long-term frequent friction, reducing external irritants can help alleviate the pain. If the lipoma is located at important joint areas, surgical removal may be necessary to relieve pain symptoms. If the lipoma causes an infection, anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment should be carried out, followed by surgical treatment once symptoms have improved.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
49sec home-news-image

Lipoma CT presentation

Lipomas are relatively common clinically and are one of the more frequent types of superficial tumors, commonly occurring on the limbs and trunk. Generally, a physical examination and ultrasound are sufficient for an accurate diagnosis of a lipoma, and there is no need for the patient to undergo a CT scan. However, if a CT scan is performed, lipomas can present in the following ways: first, a regular or lobulated mass may be found under the skin with sparse blood flow and a regular shape; second, on a CT scan, lipomas appear as low-density lesions, with CT values typically ranging between -70 HU to -90 HU. Diagnosis of a lipoma can be confirmed through these two observations.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
35sec home-news-image

Is a lipoma okay?

Lipomas are a type of tumor on the surface of the body and are benign. Patients generally do not exhibit significant clinical symptoms but might feel occasional, localized pain. Lipomas can gradually grow larger, and although rare, there is a possibility of malignancy if a lipoma persists over a long period. If a patient experiences pain or the lipoma is relatively large, it is recommended to undergo surgical treatment. Clinically, lipomas can be removed under local anesthesia, which is a minor and safe procedure, effectively curing the lipoma.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
40sec home-news-image

"How to eliminate lipomas?"

If you want to eliminate a lipoma, it generally requires surgical removal of the lipoma in its entirety. Lipomas are more likely to occur in subcutaneous fat or within muscle tissue. For small, asymptomatic lipomas, surgery is usually not necessary; however, if the lipoma enlarges, causes local compression symptoms, local pain, or if there is a significant increase in size in a short period, surgical removal can be considered, and most can be removed under local anesthesia. If the lipoma is on the back, due to prolonged compression, the difficulty of the surgery may be slightly increased.