Lipomas

A lipoma is an overgrowth of fat cells that are stuck together to form a lump just underneath the skin. They usually feel quite soft to touch and slightly mobile under the skin.

They rarely cause pain or discomfort although sometimes can be in an awkward position and may catch on clothing. They can be found almost anywhere on the body, although more common in areas where there is naturally more fat.

They are relatively common with approximately 1 in every 100 people having a lipoma. Most people will have a single lipoma but occasionally some may present with multiple lumps.  People who have multiple lipomas may be suffering from a rare disorder known as Dercum’s disease.

Lipomas are benign, noncancerous lumps. They tend to be relatively small in size, perhaps the size of a pea, although can be significantly larger. Lipomas are usually quite easily diagnosed, simply by the feel of the lump, and do not require any form of imaging. However, if there is any doubt an ultrasound scan can be arranged in order to confirm the diagnosis.

Removing a lipoma is not something that is usually carried out on the NHS. We can excise the lumps under local anesthetic in our minor operations room. We usually see patients for an initial consultation where we can confirm the diagnosis, and explain the procedure before listing patients for minor surgery.

The procedure usually takes approximately 40 minutes. Once we have removed the lump, the tissue will be sent to the lab for histological analysis, rarely cancerous lesions can mimic lipomas and so histological analysis is an important step to absolutely confirm the diagnosis.

Call us on 01918181003 for your free initial consultation.