Lipoma: When to have surgery?

When there is a fatty tumor in the neck, back, shoulder, arm and thigh area, many people worry is this melanoma? However, most lipomas are benign and rarely require surgery.

1. What is lipoma?

Lipomas usually appear in adults, this is a layer of fat that gradually accumulates and bulges under the skin. Lipomas are most common in places such as neck, back, shoulders, arms, thighs.... Mostly, lipomas are usually benign, rarely causing pain. Only when the tumor grows large and presses on a nerve or if the tumor has many blood vessels inside will it cause pain to the patient.
Depending on the age as well as the location of the lipoma, there will be different sizes. Lipomas are more commonly found in subcutaneous tissue than in visceral tissues. Lipomas are round in shape, soft like rubber, and are therefore an accumulation of a fatty, mobile layer. A person can have from 1 tumor (single lipoma) to several lipomas (multiple lipoma) and are rarely larger than 8cm.

2. When do lipomas need surgery?

In some cases, lipomas require surgery. Patients need to go to the hospital specializing in oncology for biopsies and necessary tests, from which, to determine whether a lipoma is benign or malignant.
If the lipoma is large, abnormal in nature or is located deeper than the fatty tissue, the doctor will prescribe some methods such as sample biopsy, ultrasound or other imaging tests such as MRI or CT scan, doctor to avoid confusion with fat cell cancer. In the following cases, surgery will be performed:
Tumors are painful if they press on nerves or if they have many blood vessels inside The skin covering the lipoma is inflamed Tumor growth Faster or larger than 5cm, causing difficulties in living or affecting aesthetics

Lipoma removal surgery is a small, simple intervention, usually only requires local anesthesia, is indicated for lipomas less than 3cm in diameter, deep lipomas or mixed components. fiber. This method helps the tumor to recur less, but leaves scars for the body.

3. Post-operative care

After surgery for lipoma, the patient does not need to diet, but needs to clean the wound to avoid infection. Patients should pay attention to change the dressing when dirty, clean the wound and after 7-19 days of surgery need to go back to the doctor to avoid complications.
Some common complications after lipoma surgery are: Bleeding after surgery; collection of fluid, hematoma after surgery; wound infection...
To register for examination and treatment at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact Vinmec Health System nationwide, or register for an online examination HERE
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Bài viết này được viết cho người đọc tại Sài Gòn, Hà Nội, Hồ Chí Minh, Phú Quốc, Nha Trang, Hạ Long, Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng.