How is a lipoma treated?

Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
Updated on September 19, 2024
00:00
00:00

Lipomas are commonly seen in clinical practice and are a type of superficial tumor that are benign. They frequently occur on the limbs and trunk. Lipomas are located subcutaneously and are composed of fatty tissue. If the lipoma is small and the patient does not exhibit any significant clinical symptoms, conservative observation can be adopted as a treatment method. If the lipoma is relatively large, grows rapidly, or is accompanied by concealed pain, surgical treatment can be considered. Clinically, lipomas can be excised under local anesthesia; medication or massage are both ineffective.

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 Zeng Xian Fu
General Surgery
25sec home-news-image

Can people with lipomas eat eggs?

Patients with lipomas can eat eggs; eating eggs does not affect lipomas. In daily life, it is best to avoid overly greasy food and to participate in sports activities. If overweight, it is necessary to begin weight loss soon to prevent excessive subcutaneous fat accumulation, which can lead to the formation of lipomas. If a lipoma is quite large, it can be surgically removed at a local hospital.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
36sec home-news-image

Can lipomas be massaged?

Lipomas should not be massaged. They form from abnormal hyperplasia in the subcutaneous fat tissue of the patient, presenting as localized nodules or lumps with clear boundaries and usually painless when pressed. Lipomas can be solitary or multiple. If the lipoma is small, close follow-up is sufficient; massaging or local stimulation is generally not recommended. Massaging or stimulating the area can potentially lead to an increase in the size of the lipoma, and it may provoke pain and other complications. In severe cases, it can cause the lipoma to become malignant.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
36sec home-news-image

Are lipomas contagious?

Lipomas are surface tumors caused by the proliferation of subcutaneous tissues. They are benign tumors, not bacterial infections or contagious diseases. Therefore, lipomas are not contagious. Patients with lipomas can normally interact with other people without causing the spread of lipomas among the population, which is nothing to worry about. After the occurrence of a lipoma, it can be surgically removed. Generally, a lipoma can be completely excised under local anesthesia, and after the wound is sutured, the lipoma is cured.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
49sec home-news-image

Lipoma CT presentation

Lipomas are relatively common clinically and are one of the more frequent types of superficial tumors, commonly occurring on the limbs and trunk. Generally, a physical examination and ultrasound are sufficient for an accurate diagnosis of a lipoma, and there is no need for the patient to undergo a CT scan. However, if a CT scan is performed, lipomas can present in the following ways: first, a regular or lobulated mass may be found under the skin with sparse blood flow and a regular shape; second, on a CT scan, lipomas appear as low-density lesions, with CT values typically ranging between -70 HU to -90 HU. Diagnosis of a lipoma can be confirmed through these two observations.