How Lipoma Is Treated

Lipomas are growths of fatty tissue that develop underneath the skin. The growths themselves are non-cancerous and rarely harmful to one’s health.

Because of this, treatment isn’t always necessary. That said, people can choose to have their lipomas treated using surgical removal or steroid injections. 

This article discusses the treatment options for people who wish to remove their lipomas.

Surgeries and Specialists-Driven Procedures

Surgery is the first-choice treatment for removing lipomas. Surgeons use several surgical techniques to remove a lipoma, such as:

• Minimal incision extraction: This process involves putting a small incision in the lipoma. The fatty tissue beneath the skin is removed through the small incision by squeezing it out. This technique is best for smaller lipomas.
• Elliptical incision: This surgery involves making an incision shaped like a football to remove the fatty tissue below the skin. This method is more complicated and can be less effective than minimal incision extraction.
• Endoscopic submucosal dissection: A tube-like tool known as an endoscope is inserted through a small incision into the lipoma. Another knife-like tool is run through the tube to cut the tissue out. The procedure is typically reserved for lipomas that develop in irregular places such as the gastrointestinal tract.
• Z-incision: This surgical technique involves cutting an incision shaped like the letter Z into the lipoma and removing the fatty tissue underneath. The Z-incision is best for larger lipomas that cannot be effectively removed through other surgical methods.

Off-Label Treatment  

Liposuction is another option for the removal of lipomas. While liposuction is typically reserved for other types of fat removal, the fatty tissue that makes up the lipomas can be removed using this method.

Liposuction for lipoma removal is done by cutting an incision and injecting the tissue with a solution that helps to numb the area.

The solution also helps prevent bleeding and bruising and aids in breaking down the fat, making it easier to remove. A thin tube known as a cannula is then placed into the incision to suck the fatty tissue out.

Non-Surgical Removal

Smaller lipomas can be shrunk or removed using steroid injections. Steroid injections work by stimulating the breakdown of fatty tissue and encouraging fat loss in the area.

Lipomas less than 1 inch in diameter respond the best to steroid injections. In people with small lipomas, steroid injections can reduce the size of the lipoma in roughly 60% of cases.

Prednisone and triamcinolone acetonide are steroid medications typically used for lipoma injections. Research has found that although prednisone is effective, people who use this medication over triamcinolone acetonide often experience recurrent lipomas.

Summary

Lipomas are non-cancerous growths that rarely cause symptoms. In many cases, they can be left alone without treatment. However, they can grow big enough to press on nerves, cause pain, or make it difficult to move muscles. The cosmetic appearance of lipomas can also cause an issue for some people.

Because of these reasons, many people opt to have their lipomas removed. The first-line treatment for removing lipomas is surgery. There are different surgical techniques, all of which are geared toward a person’s individual lipoma. For example, liposuction and steroid injections are effective removal techniques but work best on smaller lipomas.

A Word From Verywell

New skin growths can make your alarm bells go off, but if you have a new growth that turns out to be a lipoma, you have nothing to worry about health-wise.

Lipomas are not dangerous, and because of that, you may not have to have them removed at all. It is entirely up to you based on how the lipoma affects you and whether or not you want to go through the trouble of having it removed. Always discuss any new skin growths with your healthcare provider.