Lipoma: causes and therapies

The discovery of a lipoma can trigger anxiety, but fortunately it is a benign tumor.

It initially appears as a swelling under the skin, but it is difficult to notice. This is how the lipoma begins to grow, until it reaches a size of up to five centimeters.

It is a cluster of fat cells and is usually circumscribed within a sort of capsule.

Who strikes

At the moment the origin of the lipoma is not yet clear. “It is known that it is more frequent after the age of 50,” explains Antonino Di Pietro, Director of the Vita Cutis Dermoclinic Institute in Milan. “It is also known that more people usually suffer from it within the same family.”

It can also be recognized based on some particular characteristics: the lipoma is soft and pasty to the touch, since it is adipose tissue. In addition, if you press slightly, it moves and it seems that it “runs away”. In most cases it is only one, rarely two or more are formed.

Symptoms? Hardly ever

Lipoma hardly causes pain, except when it forms where there is a nerve, compressing it. The only problem is therefore of an aesthetic nature.

The lipoma usually forms on the neck, shoulders, back, abdomen, arms and thighs; Over time it can grow and annoy in terms of visual impact.

“It can also happen that its surface is inflamed,” adds Professor Di Pietro. “It happens when the lipoma is in contact with clothing, because of the rubbing of tissues.”

What to do

Therefore, if it bothers you, becomes inflamed or causes pain, it is always better to make an appointment with the dermatologist for a visit.

The first control is manual and consists of palpation, to ascertain if the consistency to the touch is that characteristic of the lipoma. A small sample of tissue is then taken for a biopsy, which is essential to ascertain its benign nature. Finally, the specialist requires an ultrasound to check how deep the lipoma is.

“In case of doubt, the patient can undergo an MRI or a CT scan,” says Professor Di Pietro. “This happens especially if the lipoma is in an area of the body where vision with ultrasound does not give clear results.”

Treatment

Compresses and creams are not needed, but on the contrary they could inflame the surface of the lipoma. The only accredited therapy is surgery.

The most traditional method consists of removing the lipoma with the use of a scalpel. The cut that is made is usually small, at most a couple of centimeters. The surgery is performed on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia and you go home the same day.

“If the lipoma is not very large or deep, however, today liposuction is preferred, a decidedly less invasive procedure,” concludes Professor Di Pietro. “This treatment, which is performed in a single session under local anesthesia, consists of suction of fat through a special syringe.”

Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.

The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.

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