Lipoma Removal: When and Why It’s Needed

A lipoma is one of the most common benign growths of fat occurring under the skin. Although usually harmless and painless, lipomas can be very inconvenient or even cosmetically a nuisance at times to cause surgical intervention. Understanding when and why lipoma surgery in Mumbai is required can thus enlighten one regarding the process of arriving at a decision to treat this condition.

A lipoma is a common benign tumor composed of adipocytes, as its name suggests. However, not everyone is aware of the specifics of this condition. In this blog, we will talk about what a lipoma is, its symptoms and causes, and why removal of a lipoma may be considered. We will also take a closer look at the process of lipoma surgery and the recovery process.

What is a Lipoma?

Lipomas can appear anywhere in the body, but they are most commonly found on the neck, back, shoulders, torso, and arms. They are benign soft tissue tumors, not cancerous.

Lipomas are more common among people aged 40 to 60, but they can affect people of any age. Lipomas are more commonly seen in women. They usually do not cause any complications, but a growing lipoma can harm nearby nerves, blood vessels, and joints. As a result, if an individual has lipomas, he or she should consult a doctor.

Symptoms of Lipoma

For most, lipomas are small and painless, causing no serious trouble. Some common symptoms of lipoma include the following:

• A soft lump under the skin: The lump feels doughy and as one goes to touch, it is movable.
• Slow growth: Lipomas grow incrementally. This may take years, sometimes, to be noticeable.
• Painless: Lipomas are usually not painful unless it happens to be near a nerve, or when it contains blood vessels.

Although most of these growths are benign, there are cases wherein a lipoma will bring discomfort or concern, and therefore there is an indication for a medical intervention.

When is Lipoma Surgery Indicated?

Lipoma surgery Mumbai is generally on an indication basis. Although lipomas are benign, there are many reasons why surgical removal is indicated:

1. Rapid Growth

Although lipomas grow slowly, any lipoma which seems to grow in size or shape rapidly must be investigated by a doctor. Rapid growth of a lipoma can be the sign of liposarcoma: that is, a kind of sarcoma, which is cancerous growth. Any mass growing fast is taken seriously and requires medical attention.

2. Pain or Discomfort

Painful lipomas are very rare, but few lipomas present an uncomfortable size or awkward location. Conversely, when a lipoma develops to press on nerves or blood vessels, it can be painful or cause numbness. Surgical removal is commonly recommended for these scenarios to alleviate discomfort.

3. Cosmetic Reasons

Large or palpable lipomas may sometimes become a cosmetic issue, especially when located on the neck, arms, or face. Some might want to remove lipomas for cosmetic reasons when they are not symptomatic.

4. Impairment of Movement

A lipoma located near a joint or a muscle may cause either stiffness or limitation of motion if it enlarges. Surgery restores normal movement and usually prevents any worsening of the condition.

5. Infection or Ulceration

Even though very rare, sometimes these lipomas become infected or ulcerate-especially when in a friction or injury-prone area-where removal to forestall further complications becomes necessary.

6. Uncertainty of Diagnosis

The doctor may suggest a lipoma excision if the diagnosis is ambiguous. Lipomas, otherwise, are quite straightforward and easy to diagnose by physical examination. But if imaging tests or even a biopsy were needed to rule out other conditions, removing the growth is always safer in any case that’s suspicious of it being cancerous.

Process of Lipoma Surgery

Those planning to undergo lipoma surgery in Mumbai need to be conversant with the procedures associated with the process. Lipoma removal is rather an easy surgery procedure, which can be conducted on an outpatient basis, or under local or general anesthesia, depending upon the size and position of the lipoma.

Here’s a step-wise explanation of the process:

1. Pre-Surgical Consultation: He will visit the patient prior to the surgery, to investigate the lipoma, and may also send for an ultrasound or MRI in order to get an idea of the lump’s size and location with more precision.

2. Anesthesia: Depending on the size of the lipoma and the patient’s preference, the procedure may be done under a local anesthesia, in which only the area around the lipoma is numbed, or general anesthesia, whereby the patient is put to sleep.

3. Incision and Removal: The surgeon performs an incision on top of the lipoma and then with care removes the fatty tissue. The entire lipoma is removed to prevent regrowth.

4. Suturing and Recovery: Once your lipoma has been excised, the skin will be sutured with stitches or tape. Most of the surgical time is less than one hour, though this depends largely on the complexity of the location and size of the lipoma.

Recovery and Follow-up

In general, patients can be discharged and go back to their normal activities on the same day of lipoma surgery. 

Commonly, one would have swelling, bruising, or discomfort at the site of incision but this is usually enough to be managed with over-the-counter pain medications.

Proper care after surgery should be adopted by always adhering to your surgeon’s post-operative instructions after surgery. The stitches usually are removed almost a week after the surgery, and the patients will be advised not to perform strenuous exercises for a short period of time. Infection or scarring complications are rarely encountered, but risks associated with appropriate care are minimal.

Conclusion

Lipomas are usually benign but may need to be removed if they present a cosmetic problem, are painful, or for other reasons. 

​​It is critical to emphasize that attempting to remove a lipoma at home should never be considered, as it could result in discomfort and complications such as infection, excessive bleeding, and deeper cuts that could harm the surrounding nerves.

Seek medical evaluation if you experience pain or notice a change in the diameter or silhouette of a lipoma. If you have plans for receiving lipoma surgery in Mumbai, rest assured that this is a safe and effective procedure to help get rid of lipomas and their symptoms permanently.