A lipoma is a non-cancerous overgrowth (tumour) of the fat cells. They arise in the layer of fat underneath your skin (subcutaneous tissue). It is a very common condition and in almost all cases a harmless lump underneath the skin. Lipomas can be single or multiple.
There is no specific age of onset of lipomas, but most are noticed in middle age. While women generally have solitary lipomas, men tend to have multiple such lumps.
An accurate estimate of the costs is only possible after an in-clinic consultation with Dr Prashant. We charge a £50 deposit to secure your consultation with Dr Prashant, this amount will be deducted from the costs of the treatment you go on to have at our clinic.
Disclaimer – Prices mentioned are just indicative of current average price ranges for the treatment. You will need an in-clinic consultation for a quote applicable to you. Also note that prices are subject to change, please contact a member of the team to confirm the current price range.
What causes a Lipoma?
There is no specific cause of lipomas, occasionally there might be a history of some blunt injury in that area, in many instances, there might be a family history of similar lipomas, but in most instances, the lipoma arises without a cause.
What are the symptoms and signs of a Lipoma, will my Lipoma go away on its own?
Most patients will notice a painless, soft bump or a lump under their skin and find that over the years the lump grows slightly larger. While the average size of a lipoma will be similar to 3–4 peas bunched together, occasionally the lipoma enlarges enough to be a visible lump underneath the skin. Lipomas are generally painless, easily mobile under the skin and soft to doughy. Most patients will want their lipoma’s removed for cosmetic reasons, occasionally some lipomas get a bit painful or restrict the movement of muscles.
Lipomas generally stop growing after attaining a certain size, but will not disappear on their own.
Is Lipoma dangerous?
The majority of lipomas are harmless, but if the lump you think is a lipoma, starts hurting, or growing in size, please get it examined by your doctor, as on the rare occasion you might have a nastier kind of fat cell tumour called Liposarcoma. These generally are much deeper inside the tissues than a lipoma and occur more commonly around the thigh, groin, back of the abdomen or on the back.
Do I have a Lipoma?
As outlined above if you have a soft, painless, mobile, smooth, rubbery or doughy lump under your skin, there is a chance it could be a lipoma. You will have to go to your doctor for a clinical confirmation, but lipomas are quite common on the shoulder, forearms, trunk, back of the neck.
Can I get my Lipoma removed in the NHS?
Unfortunately, Lipoma removal is generally not offered in the NHS. At Reforme Medical Clinic, Cardiff, UK, we would love to help you get rid of the lipoma.
Where can I find lipoma removal near me?
We at Reforme Medical, Cardiff, UK would love to help you get your lipoma removed.
How do I get rid of the lipoma, is the surgery painful? What is the recovery like?
Lipomas can be removed in several ways:
Complete removal, in this technique under local anaesthesia numbing, a cut is made overlying the length of the lipoma, and the entire lipoma is removed intact and then sent to the pathologist for an accurate diagnosis. This will leave you with a scar roughly the length of the lipoma that will take about a year to fade.
Small scar removal, in this technique a small cut is made, and the fatty tissue is removed, squeezed or scooped out piecemeal. The advantage is the small incision, the disadvantage is the tissue is not intact and accurate pathological diagnosis, if required, can’t be made.
Liposuction removal, this is cosmetically the most acceptable technique were a 2 mm tube is used to suck out the fat without the need for an incision. The disadvantage is that the tissue can’t be sent to the pathologist.
