Lipoma Removal Surgery
Experience Counts
What is a Lipoma?
Lipomas are slow-growing, adipose tumors usually found just below the skin. They are the most common non-cancerous soft-tissue growth and are found most often on the torso, neck, upper thighs, upper arms, and armpits but they can occur almost anywhere in the body. Most lipomas do not cause any symptoms and can be diagnosed by a physician performing a physical exam of the area. Patients typically seek treatment for lipomas when they interfere with mobility, become unsightly or continue to grow. Multiple lipomas may be present at any given time and have been diagnosed in all age groups.
Lipoma Surgery
Often times lipomas can be surgically removed in the office using a local anesthetic to numb the area. If the lipoma involves more layers of the skin or muscle or is too large to remove within the office, an outpatient surgery may be indicated. The surgical approach will depend upon the size, depth and location of the tumor. To remove the lipoma, the surgeon will make an incision on the skin above or near the lipoma and remove the lipoma using surgical instruments. Sometimes simple pressure is applied and the lipoma can be squeezed out. Once removed, the skin will be sutured closed and covered with steri-strips and covered with a sterile dressing. If you have more than one lipoma, typically several lipomas can be removed during the same visit.
Recovery
Patients may return home immediately following their procedure and should expect to return to the clinic for post-operative care to ensure the incision is healing properly. Your surgeon will send a sample of the tumor to a laboratory for testing, ensuring the lipoma tissue is not cancerous. Although most lipomas are non-cancerous, our surgeons follow strict precautions to ensure the health and safety of every patient.patient.
