How to recognize a lipoma
- A soft, rubbery lump that moves slightly under the skin when pressed
- Usually painless, although some press on nerves and ache
- Slow growth over months or years
- Most are smaller than 5 centimeters
When should a lump be checked?
Most soft lumps under the skin are lipomas or cysts, but not all. An examination by a surgeon, sometimes with an ultrasound, confirms what the lump is.
Have a lump evaluated promptly if it is larger than 5 centimeters, growing quickly, hard or fixed in place, painful, or located deep in the muscle.
Talk with Dr. Arsenous about your options.
How lipoma removal is done
Most lipomas are removed under local anesthesia. A small incision is made over the lump, the lipoma is freed from the surrounding tissue and removed whole, and the skin is closed with stitches. The tissue is sent to the laboratory for confirmation.
Larger or deeper lipomas may require imaging beforehand and may be removed in an operating room with sedation or general anesthesia.
Recovery
Most patients return to normal activities the same day or the next day. Keep the wound clean and dry as instructed and avoid strenuous use of the area for about one to two weeks, depending on the location. Stitches, if not dissolvable, are removed at a follow-up visit.