Lipoma Removal Surgery :

SYMPTOMS OF LIPOMA

The evident symptoms of lipomas can make them easy to diagnose. Lipomas are generally:

• Painless- Lipomas may cause pain and discomfort depending on their size, location, and presence of blood vessels. Even though most lipomas are painless, their presence can be uncomfortable, especially if they develop near a joint or press against a nerve.
• Encapsulated- Lipomas do not generally spread to nearby tissues.
• Round or oval in shape- fatty lumps that comprise a lipoma usually exhibit a definite form and structure.
• Movable- The lipomas can move around under the skin when touching them.
• Small sized— Lipomas are generally small (about 2 inches in diameter), although they can grow to 6 inches.

LIPOMA DIAGNOSIS

For diagnosing a lipoma, your healthcare provider may perform:

• Physical examination involves manually feeling the lipoma to examine its size and structure.
• Biopsy : A sample of the fatty tissue is removed for examination under a microscope.
• Diagnostic tests : In the case of large lipomas or those with an unusual structure, an X-ray or an imaging test such as a CT (Computed Tomography) scan or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) may be employed.

WHEN TO GET OPERATED

Lipomas do not require treatment as such, but if their presence is causing you discomfort or bothering you, you can opt for surgical removal under local anesthesia.

At times, the lipoma-like lump may be cancerous. This is called liposarcoma. These are tumors of fatty tissue that grow rapidly, are static, and cause pain. Your healthcare practitioner may order a biopsy, MRI, or CT scan to confirm the presence of liposarcomas. Once their cancerous nature is ascertained, these liposarcomas need to be surgically operated upon and removed.

In case of a lipoma, you should notify your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any change, such as sudden pain. Even if the size of the lump has increased, become stiff, and immovable, these changes should be reported without delay. If you have lipomas with blood vessels, it can cause a rare kind of lipoma called angiolipoma.

TYPES OF LIPOMA SURGERY

Lipoma removal treatment methods may be broadly classified into two types, as given below:

• Lipoma excision : Lipoma excision surgery involves surgically cutting and removing the lipomas. Once removed, the chances of recurrence are very low. However, the lipoma removal procedure can lead to bruising and scarring.
• Liposuction : Liposuction involves using a needle and a large syringe to remove the fatty lump. To avoid the lipoma removal side-effects, a technique called minimum excision extraction is becoming more popular these days. It is the best way to remove a scarless lipoma, and the liposuction technique is used. Liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure that leaves no scar on the body.

LIPOMA EXCISION SURGERY

• Pre-operation procedures : Before the surgery, the surgeon outlines the lipoma with a marker on the skin's surface. This delineates the lipoma's margins.
• During the procedure, the skin is cleansed with a solution to prevent the markings from eroding. The area is then draped with sterile towels. Local anesthesia is generally given to the patient before starting the lipoma excision surgery. Enucleation is the surgical removal of small lipomas. Larger-sized lipomas are ideally removed by making incisions in the skin overlying the lipoma. Care should be taken that no nerves or blood vessels come in the way, as these may lie underneath the tumor.

LIPOMA REMOVAL ON THE HEAD

The most common places where a lipoma can occur are under the skin on the arms and legs, neck, back, shoulders, or trunk, including the chest and torso. Sometimes, lipoma may be found on the forehead. The patient is given local anesthesia before lipoma removal on the head. Once the affected area is numbed, a small incision is made to the skin to facilitate lipoma excision. The procedure ends with suturing of the incision.

AFTERCARE: WAYS TO PREVENT LIPOMA FORMATION

Since lipomas are mostly inherited, it is almost impossible to prevent them. However, you can lower your risk of lipoma formation by cutting down on your alcohol consumption. Excessive drinking can lead to a condition called Madelung's disease, which is characterized by lipomas growing around the neck and shoulders.

LIPOMA REMOVAL COMPLICATIONS

A few lipoma removal risks may arise after the lipoma is surgically removed. These are:

• Surgical infections
• Excessive scarring
• Hematoma formation
• Muscle irritation/injury
• Injury to nearby nerves and blood vessels

SUCCESS RATE

Lipoma surgery has a high success rate, with negligible chances of recurrence once it has been removed. However, another lipoma may develop in a different spot on your body. As lipoma excision surgery is an outpatient procedure, it does not require you to stay in the hospital after the surgery. This means that you can go back home on the same day once the surgery is done.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE HOSPITAL

Most lipomas are benign and harmless and do not require any treatment. They should be removed only when they interfere with movement or affect a person's self-esteem. While choosing the best hospital for lipoma removal, you should keep the following points in mind:

• Record of the hospital in terms of success rate
• Budget-friendly lipoma removal cost
• Proven track record of specialist and qualified doctors
• Easy accessibility to the hospital