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Where do lipomas form?
A lipoma can develop on any part of the body, and it is very common for lipomas to grow on muscles, internal organs or the brain.
Lipomas that grow under the skin are generally found on the:
- Shoulders
- Forehead
- Back
- Neck
- Arms and legs
- Chest
What are the symptoms of lipoma?
For most cases, lipoma does not cause any pain, however if it presses against a nerve or develops near a joint, it can cause an uncomfortable sensation.
Lipomas are usually:
- Painless – The pain of lipomas entirely depends on the location, size and presence of blood vessels.
- Moveable – They are situated exactly below the skin’s surface. Therefore, they can move when touched.
- Small in size – The size of a lipoma is generally 2 inches in diameter, and can grow up to 6 inches wide in some cases.
- Encapsulated – Lipomas do not spread to the tissues surrounding them.
What are the causes of a lipoma?
In most cases, lipomas are caused by a hereditary condition, or by other underling medical conditions, such as:
- Gardner syndrome
- Dercum’s disease
- Hereditary multiple lipomatosis
- Madelung’s disease
What are the types of lipomas?
Depending on the type of fat constituting the lipoma, there are 7 types of lipomas:
- Conventional – This is the most common type of lipoma and it contains white fat cells which are capable of storing energy.
- Angiolipoma – This is a painful type of lipoma that contains fat and blood vessels.
- Hibernoma – This type of lipoma contains brown fat that heats and regulates the body temperature.
- Fibro lipoma – This type of lipoma is made up of fat and fibrous tissues.
- Myelolipoma – This type of lipoma contains fats and tissues that produces blood cells.
- Spindle cell – This type of lipoma is made up of fat cells that are wide.
- Pleomorphic – This type contains fat cells that are in different sizes and shapes.
What kind of treatment options are available for lipoma?
Lipomas generally do not require treatment, and surgery is suggested only if the lipoma begins to cause pain or discomfort. Lipoma procedures are usually straight-forward procedures, and patients can return home on the same day.
To surgically remove a lipoma, a local anesthesia is administered to the patient and the surgeon will make an incision near the lipoma area. Through this incision, the lipoma is then squeezed out through this incision.
Apart from a surgery, a liposuction procedure can also be done to remove the lipoma using a long thin needle to remove the fat tissue.
How can you prevent lipomas from developing?
Lipomas cannot be prevented for patients who have a family history of this condition. For patients who do not have a family history of lipomas, lipomas can be avoided by preventing the onset of lipoma causing disorders. For instance, Madelung's disease is known to cause lipomas to grow, and this disease can be avoided by reducing alcohol consumption.
When do you need to visit a doctor?
The symptoms of lipoma and liposarcoma are almost similar, hence it’s easy to be confused between both conditions. Since liposarcoma is a type of cancer, it’s always recommended to get a lipoma checked by your Apollo doctor to rule out the possibility of this serious condition. If a lipoma grows rapidly, it is also recommended to consult your Apollo doctor at the earliest.
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