Lipoma (Lipoma Removal)
Content
Description
A lipoma is a benign formation that occurs due to excessive enlargement of fat cells.
It most often appears as a hard, movable lump in the subcutaneous tissue (also referred to as a "fat lump"). It occurs in various places on the body (head, torso, abdomen, back, shoulders, arms, thighs).
It usually does not cause any problems, but it can be painful and can press on surrounding tissues (nerves, tendons, muscles), or it is visible as an aesthetically unsightly lump.
The causes of lipomas are likely hereditary and are not related to obesity (they also occur in thin patients) - so you cannot "lose weight" with exercise.
Facts
- Local anesthesia
- Outpatient procedure
- Procedure takes 30 minutes
- Recovery in 7 days
Lipoma is most often discovered accidentally by palpating a hard lump in the subcutaneous tissue.
A skin doctor (dermatologist) will confirm the diagnosis with a clinical examination.
In case of doubt, an ultrasound examination (USG) is performed.
A lipoma is most often removed by surgical extirpation (surgical removal). Smaller lipomas are removed under local anesthesia and the stitches are left for 5-7 days on the face and 10-14 days on the body. The advantage is obtaining a sample for histological examination (there is also a malignant form of lipoma: liposarcoma), the disadvantage is the presence of a scar.
Liposuction is used if the patient has a larger number of lipomas (the disease is referred to as lipomatosis). This procedure allows the removal of a larger number of lipomas in one session using small punctures that serve as the entrance to the liposuction cannula.
Enzyme lipolysis is one of the newer methods, for which an enzyme that dissolves adipose tissue is injected into the lipoma. The fat is then naturally broken down. This method is suitable for smaller lipomas. Its disadvantage is that it is not possible to take a sample for histological examination.
