Lipoma
Treatment Duration
60
Suggested Sessions
1-2 times/year
Lipoma Safe, Painless & Normal
Hidden under the skin, the lipoma creates the fear and concern of the "suspicious tumor", which however does not correspond to reality.
The smaller or larger "knots" of fat cells that we can feel in any part of our body are considered harmless and do not threaten health.
A lipoma is a common soft tissue tumor, which is painless and generally benign. Its removal is most often done for aesthetic reasons.
What is Lipoma?
A lipoma is a lump of fatty tissue (bump or "lump", as many describe it) that grows just under the skin, round or oval in shape, 1 to 10 centimeters in size.
It feels like it's moving when you touch it, it's soft and doesn't cause pain. Usually one lipoma is observed in the body, but it is possible to develop more (multiple lipomas).
Lipoma grows slowly, is not cancerous and most of the time does not need treatment.
Lipoma & Points of Appearance
Lipoma can appear anywhere on the body. Common areas where it is seen are the following:
- Hands or legw
- Arms
- Back
- Shoulders
- Neck
- Torso
- Forehead
Rarely, lipoma can also be found in internal organs or muscles of the body.
It is usually not painful, however it can cause discomfort if it grows near a nerve, a joint or a muscle
Who Does Lipoma Affect?
Lipoma can appear at any age. However, it is more often seen in men and women between the ages of 40 and 60, perhaps a little more often in men.
In terms of its incidence in the general population, it appears to be very common as scientific estimates state that 1 in 1,000 people will experience lipoma at some point in their lives.
Causes
The causes that cause the development of lipomas are not clear.
However, it is believed that the genetic factor plays a role in their occurrence, as inheritance is observed in members of a family.
Diagnosis
The rule says that every tumor we find in the body must be evaluated by the specialist doctor and more specifically by the general surgeon.
The experienced general surgeon at Facemed Clinic will confirm if the lump you have is a lipoma and not some other type of tumor.
The diagnosis of lipoma is usually made easily during the clinical examination.
If the picture is not clear the doctor can recommend a biopsy in order to determine that it is not the small possibility of a type of cancer called liposarcoma.
Also, if he deems it necessary, he can also request an imaging test (ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging), especially when the lipoma has unusual characteristics.
Lipoma & Treatment
Reasons for aesthetics and functionality, rather than health, most often lead people with lipoma to the surgeon's office to seek treatment.
Most of the time, however, the monitoring by the patient and the doctor is the treatment of the lipoma.
The extent, location and symptoms likely to present each lipoma are considered in the decision for treatment, which is surgical removal.
The procedure is short and safe, while returning home the same day. And the lipoma that is removed is sent for a biopsy.
Benign lipomas have a very good prognosis, they do not develop into cancer and once they are removed they do not grow again.
