Do lipomas hurt?

Written by Ma Xian Shi
General Surgery
Updated on September 08, 2024
00:00
00:00

Lipoma is a common clinical disease characterized by tumor-like normal adipose tissue, often occurring in the limbs and trunk. It has clearly defined margins, is lobulated, soft in texture, and may feel like a pseudocyst, with no pain symptoms. The growth is slow, and some can grow quite large. Deep-seated lipomas can potentially become malignant and should be surgically removed promptly. Another type is the painful lipoma, which often occurs in patients with a family history. These tumors are usually smaller and commonly distributed symmetrically. However, most lipoma patients do not experience pain symptoms; it is only the painful lipomas that are painful. These are also characterized by a family history, symmetrical distribution, and smaller size.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
53sec home-news-image

Do lipomas need to be treated?

Lipomas are a type of benign disease. For smaller lipomas, such as those with a diameter of about 1 centimeter, it is not necessary to consider surgical treatment. However, it is important to monitor the size of the lipoma. In cases where the lipoma is larger, for example, exceeding 3 centimeters in diameter, or if there is pain in the lipoma, or if it grows significantly in a short period of time, surgical removal should be considered. The surgery can be performed under local anesthesia, with lidocaine injected into the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Once anesthetized, an incision is made along the skin lines over the surface of the lipoma, followed by strategic separation and complete excision of the lipoma. The excised lipoma should then be sent to the pathology department for pathological examination.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
38sec home-news-image

What should I do about a lipoma?

Lipomas are superficial tumors that belong to benign tumors. They occur due to the proliferation of subcutaneous fatty tissue. A B-ultrasound examination is required for confirming the diagnosis of a lipoma. If the patient shows no significant clinical symptoms and the tumor is relatively small, it is generally advisable to schedule regular check-ups; medications, massage, or physiotherapy are all ineffective. If the lipoma is relatively large, or if the patient experiences localized pain, surgical removal can be considered, which can be done under local anesthesia.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
33sec home-news-image

What is a lipoma?

Lipoma is a type of benign tumor, classified as a superficial disorder. Its tissue is composed of fatty tissue. Patients often develop a lump under the skin, which has clear boundaries and the skin surface does not show swelling or ulceration. Generally, the lump is lobular or flat in shape. Since lipoma is a benign tumor, it can typically be managed by regular check-ups. If the lipoma is relatively large, or if there is localized concealed pain, surgical removal can be performed under local anesthesia.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
44sec home-news-image

Do lipomas need to be treated?

Whether a lipoma needs treatment depends on its location, size, shape, and presence of symptoms. If the lipoma is small and symptom-free, it generally does not require treatment. Lipomas are benign lesions formed by abnormal growth of subcutaneous fat and rarely become cancerous. However, if the lipoma is large, causing compressive symptoms, or noticeably growing fast over a short period, along with local pain, it should be considered for complete excision under local anesthesia. After removal, it is generally necessary to send the specimen for pathological examination, and depending on the situation, decide whether to place a drainage tube at the wound site.

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.