Lipoma Removal Surgery

What is Lipoma Removal Surgery?

A lipoma is a soft, fatty lump that can grow under your skin, below your muscles, or within deeper tissues, either singly or in multiple numbers. It’s made up of fat cells and feels smooth, rubbery, and moves easily (under your skin) when you press it. Lipomas are benign (non-cancerous), usually small (less than 2 inches wide), painless and harmless, and have a propensity to grow slowly. Very rarely, a lipoma can turn into a cancerous swelling called liposarcoma.

Excision (removal) of a lipoma is a minor surgical procedure for complete removal of the lipoma. Though lipomas are usually harmless and painless, some people might choose to get them removed because they grow large, sometimes cause discomfort, may become painful, or for cosmetic reasons (bumpy and uneven appearance).

During the surgery, your plastic surgeon makes a small incision (cut) over the lipoma, dissects and removes the lump of fatty tissue, and stitches the incision. The procedure is usually done under local anesthesia, and you can go home within half an hour after the surgery is over. Surgery is a safe and effective way to completely remove lipomas.

Are Lipomas Common?

Yes, lipomas are the most common type of soft tissue lump found below the skin.

According to studies, the occurrence of lipoma is 2.1 per 1,000 people. Anyone can develop a lipoma, but they are more often seen in adults between 20 and 50 years old & in women. Some people may have just one lipoma, while others might have multiple of them. Lipomas usually run in families, so if someone in your family has them, you might be more likely to get them too.

Common Types of Lipoma

1. Conventional (Classic) Lipoma: This is the most common type, made entirely of mature white fat cells. It feels soft, rubbery, and moves easily under the skin. Classic lipomas are usually painless and grow slowly, often found on the neck, shoulders, back, arms, or thighs.
2. Fibrolipoma: Fibrolipomas contain both fat and fibrous connective tissue, making them feel firmer compared to a regular lipoma. They can appear anywhere on the body and are harmless, but their firmness can make them feel different from classic lipomas.
3. Angiolipoma: These lipomas are made of fat cells and many small blood vessels. Unlike most lipomas, angiolipomas often cause pain or tenderness, especially when pressed. They are commonly seen on the forearms of young adults and may appear as multiple small lumps.
4. Intramuscular (Infiltrating) Lipoma: These lipomas grow within muscles and can spread into surrounding muscle tissue. They feel deep and firm as compared to surface lipomas and may cause discomfort or limited movement, affecting muscle function. Surgical removal is required, but there is a risk of recurrence if not completely removed.

Symptoms of Lipoma

• Soft lump under the skin – feels doughy or rubbery and moves easily when pressed. It may become noticeable under the skin after some time, especially if it grows larger.
• Pain - Lipomas are usually painless, but they can hurt if they are pressed and the pressure is transferred to nearby nerves or if the lipoma has blood vessels running through it.
• Increase in size - Usually lipomas increase in size gradually over months or years. However, sometimes they increase rapidly in size or attain a very large size due to continuous and prolonged growth.
• Restricted movements – if a lipoma grows to a huge size near a joint or within the muscle, it might cause slight stiffness or limited movements, but this is uncommon.
• Rapid, unexplained growth or firmness – if a lump like lipoma grows quickly, loses its characteristic free mobility, feels hard, becomes fixed and becomes painful without a known reason, it could indicate another condition (like liposarcoma – cancerous change) and needs medical evaluation.

Causes of Lipoma

The exact cause of lipoma isn’t fully understood, but here are some possible causes:

• Genetics – they often run in families, so you’re more likely to get one if a close family member has them.
• Age – As lipomas are more common among people between 20 and 50 years, they might occur after reaching a certain age.
• Certain conditions – Rare conditions like familial multiple lipomatosis, Gardner’s syndrome, or adiposis dolorosa (Dercum’s disease) can cause multiple lipomas to develop.
• Obesity and metabolic factors – while not a direct cause, some studies suggest people with metabolic conditions may have a higher chance of developing lipomas.

When to Opt for Lipoma Removal Surgery in Ahmedabad?

You might choose to have a lipoma removed if:

• It causes pain or tenderness – especially if it presses on nearby nerves or has many blood vessels inside.
• It’s growing larger – particularly if it grows quickly or becomes bigger than 2 inches.
• It causes discomfort or affects movement – for example, if it’s near a joint or muscle and makes certain activities uncomfortable.
• It affects your appearance or confidence – many people choose removal for cosmetic reasons if the lump is visible or bothersome.
• The diagnosis is uncertain – if your doctor isn’t sure it’s a lipoma, removal and biopsy can confirm what it is.
• It feels firm or changes suddenly with regard to size, shape, or symptoms, as this could be a sign of another condition, like liposarcoma, which requires medical evaluation.

Treatment Options for Lipoma Removal

1.   Observation (No Treatment Needed)

Many lipomas are small, painless, and harmless. If they’re not causing discomfort, pain, or cosmetic concerns, doctors often suggest leaving them alone. Regular monitoring is recommended to check if they grow or change, but in most cases, they remain stable for years without causing any issues.

2.   Surgical Removal (Excision)

This is the most common and effective treatment if the lipoma is painful, growing, pressing on nerves, restricting movement, or causing cosmetic concerns. The surgeon makes an incision over the lipoma and removes it entirely. It is usually done under local anesthesia & its complete removal generally prevents recurrence.

3.   Liposuction

Liposuction is used for larger subcutaneous (below the skin) lipomas. It involves making a small incision and inserting a thin, hollow tube (cannula) to suck out the fatty tissue. To facilitate the suction of fat, a significant amount of fluid is inserted with pressure inside the lipoma, prior to suction, which is called infiltration. Infiltration fluid is mixed with a local anesthetic solution for pain relief and a drug called adrenalin which helps in minimizing the blood loss. After 10 -15 minutes of infiltration, suction is performed, and thus, the complete process of liposuction (infiltration + suction) comes to an end. But, even after very good liposuction of a lipoma, the capsule of the lipoma and its intervening fibrous septa remain inside, which are removed by slightly enlarging the liposuction incision, followed by dissection and removal of all septa and capsule. The ultimate scar left after the procedure of complete removal is comparatively very small in size (compared to the size of the lipoma), and with the passage of time, it becomes negligible.

4.   Steroid Injections

This is a less common option. Steroid injections can help shrink the lipoma by reducing its size, especially if it is small. However, this treatment does not completely remove the lipoma, and it can lead to atrophy (shrinkage) of surrounding normal fat, leading to aesthetic deformity, and is generally not preferred.

After-Care of Lipoma Removal Surgery

Wound Care: Keep the surgical site clean and dry. Follow your doctor’s instructions on how to clean the area and change dressings if needed. Avoid getting the wound wet until instructed by your plastic surgeon.

Pain Management: Mild pain or soreness is normal. Analgesic (painkiller) drug will be prescribed to you, and necessary instructions will be given for the use of the drug at home.

Activity Restrictions: Avoid heavy lifting, strenuous activities, or exercises that might stretch or put pressure on the stitches for a few days. Light activities are allowed, but when in doubt, always ask your operating plastic surgeon.

Watch for Infection: Watch for signs of infection like redness, swelling, increased pain, warmth, pus, or fever for the initial 3 - 5 days after the surgery. If you notice any of these, contact your plastic surgeon immediately.

Stitches Removal: If non-dissolvable stitches were used, you’ll need a follow-up visit to get them removed — usually within 7 – 8 days.

Scar Care: Once healed, you can gently massage the scar area with moisturizer cream or use special scar-modifying products prescribed by your plastic surgeon to help reduce scarring. Sun protection is also important to prevent the scar from becoming pigmented (dark).

Follow-Up Appointment: Normally, two follow-up visits are scheduled in the first week after surgery. Your plastic surgeon will advise you regarding further and long-term follow-up for scar management.

Can Lipoma Be Prevented?

Lipomas are usually idiopathic (without cause) or sometimes caused by genetic factors, so there is no specific way to prevent them from happening. Because they often run in families, meaning if your parents or siblings have lipomas, you have a higher chance of lipoma than a normal individual.

Although there are some tips that you need to keep in mind:

• Healthy diet and lifestyle: While it doesn’t prevent lipomas, staying healthy supports your body’s overall tissue function and healing capacity.
• Regular medical check-ups: Yearly health check-ups help identify any new lumps or health concerns early for timely advice or treatment.

Results of Lipoma Removal Surgery

After treatment, you can expect a smooth recovery with no or minimal issues. Surgery removes the lipoma completely, relieving any pain, discomfort, or cosmetic concerns. You may have a small scar at the removal site, but the lipoma very rarely comes back if fully removed. Most people return to their normal activities within a couple of days.

Why Choose Cutis Hospital for Lipoma Removal Surgery in Ahmedabad?

At Cutis Hospital, we know that living with a lipoma can affect your comfort, confidence, and daily life. That’s why we focus on more than just removing the lump – we provide thorough evaluation, expert surgical care, and a treatment plan customized to your unique condition. Our goal is to ensure you feel comfortable, safe, and confident with your results.

Specialized Expertise in Treating Lipomas
Our team of Plastic surgeons has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating all types of lipomas, whether they are small, large, deep under the skin, or multiple. We evaluate each case thoroughly to plan the safest and most effective treatment, ensuring complete removal and reducing the risk of recurrence.

Highly Skilled Surgical Team
Led by Dr. Chintan Patel, an experienced plastic surgeon, our surgical team performs lipoma removal procedures with precision and care. Their expertise and ability to use magnification for lipoma removal and use of the liposuction technique for large lipomas ensure minimal scarring, quicker recovery, and the best possible cosmetic outcomes for every patient with lipoma, irrespective of its size, type, anatomical location, or number of lipomas.

Comprehensive Treatment and After-Care
We provide end-to-end treatment solutions, starting from detailed diagnosis and personalized surgical planning to safe removal procedures and dedicated after-care. Our team closely monitors your recovery and guides you with proper wound care and follow-up to ensure smooth healing.

Patient-Focused and Compassionate Environment
At Cutis Hospital, we treat every patient with empathy and respect. Our staff creates a welcoming and comfortable environment where you feel heard, cared for, and confident about your treatment journey from consultation to recovery.

Connect with Our Experts at Cutis to Know More!

Book your consultation with our expert surgical team today for end-to-end diagnosis & further professional assistance.