Do lipomas infect other people?

Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
Updated on September 07, 2024
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Lipomas are non-contagious and are tumorous formations of normal fatty tissue, often found in the limbs and trunk. They generally have clear boundaries, are soft in texture, and may feel cystic without causing pain. Lipomas grow slowly and can sometimes become very large. For most lipomas, observation is sufficient, and diagnosis can be confirmed through ultrasonography. Most patients do not require surgical treatment. However, if there is suspicion of malignancy in deeper lipomas, timely surgical removal is necessary. For lipomas that grow rapidly, cause symptoms, or affect appearance, early surgical intervention is also recommended. If pathology confirms the diagnosis, some lipomas may be liposarcomas. Most can be assessed for risk, and further treatment might be needed.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Can lipomas disappear?

Lipomas generally do not disappear on their own, and currently the only effective treatment for subcutaneous lipomas is surgical removal. However, lipomas are typically managed with an observational approach in clinical settings. Regular ultrasound checks can be scheduled to assess the growth rate of the lipoma and monitor any clinical symptoms it may cause. Observation is mainly employed because lipomas rarely turn malignant and because lipomas, especially those on the body's surface, often appear as multiple lesions. Complete removal can lead to surgical scars, affecting the appearance. Most lipomas grow slowly, often remaining asymptomatic under one centimeter, requiring no special treatment. During follow-up, if the growth rate is unusually rapid, malignancy cannot be ruled out, and surgical removal should be considered.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Do lipomas need surgery?

Lipomas do not necessarily require surgical treatment. They can occur in various parts of the body and are usually characterized by good mobility, a complete capsule, no tenderness, a firm texture, and mostly clear boundaries. They often present no clinical symptoms and are found incidentally. Diagnosis can be confirmed through ultrasonography. In most cases, patients only need follow-up observation. However, for lipomas in special locations, if they affect appearance or grow rapidly causing symptoms, surgical treatment may be considered. After a complete excision, pathological examination is necessary because a very small number of cases may turn out to be liposarcomas, which might require further treatment.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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"How to eliminate lipomas?"

If you want to eliminate a lipoma, it generally requires surgical removal of the lipoma in its entirety. Lipomas are more likely to occur in subcutaneous fat or within muscle tissue. For small, asymptomatic lipomas, surgery is usually not necessary; however, if the lipoma enlarges, causes local compression symptoms, local pain, or if there is a significant increase in size in a short period, surgical removal can be considered, and most can be removed under local anesthesia. If the lipoma is on the back, due to prolonged compression, the difficulty of the surgery may be slightly increased.

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Written by Ma Xian Shi
General Surgery
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Treatment of Lipoma

Lipomas are a common type of benign tumor that we see clinically. Most cases are benign, and malignant transformation is very rare. Lipomas consist of normal, fatty-like tissue and primarily occur on the limbs and trunk. They have clear boundaries, are lobulated in appearance, soft in texture, and may feel like a false cyst. They are painless and grow slowly. Some can grow very large, and deep-seated ones may undergo malignant transformation and should be treated surgically in a timely manner. In terms of treatment for lipomas, medication is ineffective. Small lipomas can be monitored periodically. If a lipoma is large, affects daily life or aesthetics, or is a deep-seated lipoma that might become malignant, surgical treatment is required.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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Do lipomas hurt when pressed?

For most lipomas, there is no pain when pressed. Lipomas are formed due to excessive proliferation of subcutaneous fat, with clear boundaries and very good mobility, and there is no pain upon pressing. If the lipoma is small or there are multiple lipomas, there is no need for excessive attention or surgical treatment in everyday life. Of course, excessive massaging or rubbing should be avoided. If pain occurs when pressing the lipoma, or if the lipoma is relatively large and grows significantly in a short period, surgical removal should be considered. Generally, the lipoma can be completely removed under local anesthesia.