A fatty tumor is not necessarily a sign of serious trouble. When finding a lipoma, many begin to panic and jump to conclusions. Fortunately, these growths are not cancerous, though they can feel annoying to the touch. If you have noticed a lipoma on the back of your neck or another area, we can help. At McLean & Potomac Dermatology, we offer lipoma removal procedures to help eliminate these troublesome bumps for good. Schedule your appointment today to learn more about the procedure.
What Causes Lipoma?
A lipoma is a slow-growing, fatty lump that develops between your skin and the underlying muscle layer. These growths can feel doughy and can be easily moved with slight finger pressure. A lipoma isn’t cancerous and is usually harmless. Treatment generally isn’t necessary, but if the growth bothers you and is painful or growing, you may want to remove it.
What Are the Lipoma Removal Options?
A lipoma is rarely a serious medical condition. Treatment generally isn’t necessary, but if the lipoma bothers you or is painful or swollen, you may want to have it removed. Lipomas can be easily removed via a simple surgical procedure performed by one of our providers. This procedure is called an excision, during which the skin is numbed with a needle, the lipoma is removed, and stitches are placed.
Is Lipoma Removal Permanent?
Proper lipoma removal carries a small risk of recurrence. In the vast majority of cases, the removed lipoma does not return; even if it does, it does so after many years. Some scarring can be expected after the removal of the growth. It’s important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of the excision procedure before committing to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a lipoma, and how can I tell if a lump is non-cancerous?
A lipoma is a slow-growing, benign (non-cancerous) fatty lump that develops between the skin and underlying muscle. They typically feel doughy to the touch and move easily with slight finger pressure. While they are usually harmless, any new or unusual growth should be evaluated by a dermatologist to confirm an accurate diagnosis.
What does a professional lipoma removal procedure involve?
If a lipoma is painful, growing, or cosmetically bothersome, it can be easily removed through a routine in-office surgical excision. A provider will completely numb the area with a local anesthetic, make a precise incision to remove the fatty lump, and close the skin with stitches, which are removed a few days later.
Will a lipoma grow back after it has been surgically removed?
Surgical excision offers a permanent solution for the specific growth removed, carrying a very low risk of recurrence. In the vast majority of cases, the lipoma never returns to that spot. While some mild scarring is to be expected after the procedure, the area will be smooth and free of the original bump.
Schedule Lipoma Removal in McLean, VA, or Potomac, MD
If you’ve noticed an unusual growth on your body, it’s important that you get it checked as soon as possible. If the growth is a lipoma, we can remove it and help smooth the area.
Ready to have a lipoma removed? Book online with our board-certified dermatology team in McLean or Potomac below.