If you have noticed a fatty lump beneath your skin, you may find cause for concern and want to get it checked out by a board-certified dermatologist at OC Skin Institute. Our team of doctors and nurses are experienced in the surgical removal of lipoma.
What is a Lipoma?
A lipoma is a non-cancerous growth of fatty tissue beneath the skin. Typically lipomas are found in the innermost layer of skin where nerve endings and fat cells exist. In other instances, lipomas can grow deeper in the muscles. Typical lipomas range from 2 to 3 cm in size while larger lumps or masses can grow to be 10 cm or more. Lipomas are benign in the sense that there is no evidence that they evolve into cancerous tissue. However, experts do disagree on this. Lipoma removal is generally recommended because they do grow in size with time and can place pressure or affect your organs in the long run.
Lipoma Removal Surgery
Lipomas are generally found to exist on the shoulders, chest, thighs, neck and armpits. Lipoma removal surgery is typically under general anesthesia. However, if the lipoma is large or in a sensitive location, the patient may be sedated and put under. During the procedure, the dermatologic surgeon will excise the lipoma and then use dissolvable stitches to close the area.
The following medical conditions may lead to the development of lipomas beneath the skin:
- Gardner’s syndrome
- Cowden syndrome
- Madelung’s disease
- Adiposis dolorosa
Contact OC Skin Institute to learn more about lipoma removal performed by our board-certified dermatologic surgeons.