Best Dermatologist for Lipoma Treatments in San Francisco

What is Lipoma?

A lipoma is a harmless growth (also called a benign tumor) that grows under the skin. Lipomas are made up of fat cells that most often appear as a bump under the skin. They can occur anywhere on the body in both men and women, but are most commonly found on the neck, shoulders, back, abdomen, arms, and upper thighs. Lipomas can vary in size, and can range from the size of a pea, to the size of a golfball or larger. Lipomas may remain stable in size or grow gradually over time. They are typically not harmful, but sometimes may cause discomfort in the skin if they press on nerves or muscles. While most lipomas lie in the fatty layer of tissue directly underneath the skin, some lipomas may lie deeper under the skin, such as within, or below the muscle, which may make removal of these lesions more complex.

What Causes Lipomas?

The exact cause of lipomas is not fully understood, however there are some known risk factors that can contribute to their development. One of such factors is genetics, as these lesions often run in families and is thought to be hereditary. Other factors such as a history of injury in a particular area of skin, are known to trigger the growth of lipomas in some cases. Finally, age may play a role, as these lesions are more commonly found in mid-aged and older individuals.

How are Lipomas Treated?

Patients may seek to get lipomas removed for a number of reasons, for example, for rapid growth or increase in size, pain symptoms, or for purely aesthetic reasons. The most common removal method for lipomas is through surgery, called an excision. This minor procedure involves a doctor making an incision in the skin over the lipoma, then cutting out the lipoma and finally, closing up the incision with sutures. This often leaves a scar, although the scar may be cosmetically at a later time to make it less noticeable. For larger lipomas or lipomas in areas where a scar is highly undesirable, a liposuction procedure may be used to remove the fatty tissue through a small incision. Finally, lipomas may be removed by injecting a chemical substance that dissolves fatty tissue directly into the affected area.. Before recommending a particular treatment plan, your dermatologist or plastic surgeon may recommend imaging tests such as ultrasound or MRI to help identify the exact location under the skin where this tumor is located. This helps with deciding which treatment approach will have the best outcome.

What To Expect from The Surgical Procedure?

Lipomas are mostly treated by surgical excision at the California Center for Dermatologic surgery, although other options such as liposuction and injectables may be used in the right candidate. The surgical excision procedure is done under local anesthesia by a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or other physician expert in skin surgery, while one is awake. The skin overlying the lipoma is cut, the tumor is removed and sent for a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis, and the skin is then re-stitched. The procedure typically lasts 15-30 minutes. Your doctor will counsel you to avoid strenuous activity for several days after this procedure, to help minimize the risk of complications from surgery such as bleeding and swelling. The stitched up wound from the surgery typically heals in 7-14 days.

Do I Need Prepare for the Excision?

Specific instructions on how to prepare for your lipoma surgery will be discussed with you by your doctor ahead of your surgery appointment during a consultation visit. In general, you should plan on avoid strenuous activity for 1-2 weeks after surgery. You should plan on returning for a follow-up appointment 1-2 weeks after your surgery.