How Does Lipoma Removal Work?

If you’re considering lipoma removal, you might be wondering how the procedure works and how you can be prepared for the surgery. Knowing all the details before heading to the doctor’s office can give you peace of mind and make sure you are prepared.

What is Lipoma?

Lipomas are fat tumors that are located just below the skin. They are most common in middle-aged people but people of any age can have them. They are often slow growing and not painful. They have a soft and rubbery feel.

About 1 in every 1,000 people will develop a lipoma, so they are very common. Some can be treated with steroid injections or draining of the tumor. However, sometimes surgery is needed if there is pain or you have cosmetic concerns.

When Should I Have Lipoma Removed?

Your doctor will be able to advise you on whether or not you need to have a lipoma removed. Surgical removal is often done when the lipoma is painful or if it’s increasing in size. Most doctors, such as London Dermatology Clinic, will still remove the lipoma if you want it done for cosmetic reasons only.

Evaluation and Prep

Before lipoma can be removed, you will need to have an evaluation by the doctor. This includes a physical exam to discuss your symptoms and determine if you need surgery. You will also need to do some routine blood work to make sure there are no medical conditions that might prevent you from having surgery.

If surgery is planned, your doctor might tell you to stop taking current medications as some are dangerous to take during surgery. So, make sure the doctor and surgeon know about all medications you take including supplements and over-the-counter pills.

The Procedure

Depending on the location and the size of the tumor, you might need to go under anesthesia for the surgery. Sometimes only sedation is needed. The surgeon will determine which one is best for you.

The surgeon will then make an incision on the skin just above the lipoma. The tumor will be removed after the surgeon has injected numbing medicine into the area.

Once the whole tumor has been removed, the skin will be sutured back together. It will then be covered with sterile strips and gauze as well as some surgical glue.

If you have more than one lipoma, it’s usually possible for the doctor to remove them all at the same time. Make sure you discuss with the surgeon all lipomas so that they know which ones you plan to have removed during the visit.

Recovery

Recovery can vary from patient to patient but most find that they can return to work the next day unless they have a heavy manual labor job. If you have a job where you moved around a lot or where you need to do the strenuous lifting, you might need to take about a week off work.

Recovery also depends on the size of the tumor that was removed and the location it was removed from. Always make sure the surgeon goes over recovery tips before you leave the office or hospital.

Here are some general recovery tips to follow:

Make sure someone drives you home from the surgery and that someone stays with you for 24 hours afterward.
Go home and rest as soon as you leave the doctor’s office. Avoid going out on the day of the surgery as you need to stay home, rest, and recover.
Avoid certain foods like citrus, fried foods, and milk products. You should eat bland food including pasta, toast, applesauce, soups, and potatoes.
Do not remove bandages for 24-48 hours after the surgery. If the doctor only used surgical glue, you will not have bandages to remove.
You can shower on the same day as the surgery, but you should not take a bath or go swimming for about a week.
You will usually be given pain medication to take home with you. Only take as per the instructions. The nurse and surgeon will go over the instructions before you leave the office. In addition to the narcotic pain medication, you can also take Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve if you experience more pain.
You should take a stool softener twice daily starting the day after the procedure. Take stool softeners until you are done with the narcotic pain medication.

If you are in London and want your Lipoma checked or removed, you can make an appointment with our surgeon today.