Lipoma (Fatty Lump)
A lipoma is a harmless lump of fat cells that grows slowly under the skin, most often on the back, shoulders, arms, neck or thighs. It feels soft and rubbery and moves when pressed. Lipomas are not cancer and rarely cause problems, so many are left alone. They are removed when they are uncomfortable, in a visible place, growing, or when the diagnosis is not certain.
Find a General Surgery SpecialistMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Symptoms
- A soft, rubbery lump under the skin
- A lump that moves easily under the finger
- Usually painless, sometimes tender if it presses on a nerve
- Slow growth over months or years
- Usually smaller than 5cm
When to See a Doctor
See a doctor to have any new lump examined once. See a surgeon promptly if a lump is larger than about 5cm, growing quickly, hard, fixed to deeper tissue, painful, or deep within a muscle. These features need a scan and sometimes a biopsy to rule out a rare fatty tumour called a liposarcoma.
Treatment options
- Reassurance and observation for small, typical lipomas
- Ultrasound or MRI scan for large, deep or unusual lumps
- Surgical excision under local anaesthetic, usually as a day case
- Liposuction for selected larger lipomas
- Sending the removed lump to the laboratory to confirm the diagnosis
What it costs on Mezo
Published cash prices for the operations used to treat this condition. Your own quote follows an examination.
Common Questions
Can a lipoma turn into cancer?
A lipoma does not turn into cancer. The concern is a different, rare tumour called liposarcoma, which can look similar at first. That is why large, fast-growing, hard or deep lumps are scanned.
Can creams or injections dissolve a lipoma?
No cream is proven to remove a lipoma. Steroid injections can shrink some but rarely remove them completely. Excision is the only reliable way to remove one.
Will a lipoma come back after removal?
Rarely, if it was removed completely. Some people tend to form several lipomas, so a new one can appear elsewhere.
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