Do lipomas grow?

Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
Updated on January 24, 2025
00:00
00:00

Lipoma is a type of tumor on the surface of the body, which is relatively common in clinical practice and often occurs in the limbs and trunk. After the development of a lipoma, a mass generally appears under the skin; the mass is tough and lobulated or flat, and the surface skin remains intact, which can be used to diagnose a lipoma. Once a lipoma develops, it may grow larger, but the growth rate is generally slow, and there are usually no obvious clinical symptoms. If a patient notices that the lipoma is enlarging, surgical removal can be considered.

Other Voices

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 Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
38sec home-news-image

Symptoms of Lipoma

Lipomas are considered superficial tumors, often caused by proliferation of subcutaneous fat. When lipomas occur, patients may feel localized pain, but most patients do not have significant pain symptoms. Instead, a mass appears under the skin, which typically presents as lobulated, can be moved, and has a smooth surface. The consistency is either relatively firm or soft. These are typical clinical manifestations of lipomas. Clinically, an ultrasound examination is needed to assist in the diagnosis, and surgical removal is recommended after diagnosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
35sec home-news-image

Is a lipoma okay?

Lipomas are a type of tumor on the surface of the body and are benign. Patients generally do not exhibit significant clinical symptoms but might feel occasional, localized pain. Lipomas can gradually grow larger, and although rare, there is a possibility of malignancy if a lipoma persists over a long period. If a patient experiences pain or the lipoma is relatively large, it is recommended to undergo surgical treatment. Clinically, lipomas can be removed under local anesthesia, which is a minor and safe procedure, effectively curing the lipoma.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
41sec home-news-image

Lipoma outpatient or hospitalization

Lipomas are relatively superficial and clinically classified as surface tumors, typically located beneath the skin. Clinically, lipoma surgeries can generally be conducted in an outpatient setting, performed under local anesthesia. However, this is not absolute. Some lipomas are larger, and performing the surgery under local anesthesia can be very painful for the patient, complicating the complete removal of the lipoma and affecting surgical operations. In such cases, hospitalization and surgery under intravenous anesthesia are generally recommended, as this allows for better patient cooperation and the thorough removal of the lipoma.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
42sec home-news-image

Lipoma surgery cost

Small lipomas are generally treated on an outpatient basis in some top-tier municipal hospitals, including local anesthesia. The cost of anesthesia generally ranges from 200 to 300 yuan. However, this depends on the size and location of the lipoma. If the lipoma is in a special area or is relatively large, the surgery costs may increase. It also depends on whether the lipoma is a liposarcoma. If liposarcoma cannot be ruled out, then further extensive excision during hospitalization is needed after a pathological examination. Thus, the cost of the surgery for removing the tumor will depend on the specific condition.