Lipomas are benign tumors made up of fat and can occur in various parts of the body. While the causes are unclear, they are common and usually painless. Medical intervention is only necessary if the lipoma changes shape or texture, or if it causes pain. Removal is a minor procedure and does not require an overnight stay. Risk factors include genetic predisposition and age.
Lipomas are benign tumors, usually found under the skin of the back, chest, neck, shoulders and arms. They are a collection of fat, and the causes of lipoma are unclear, although some people think they may occur at a site of previous trauma. It is also thought that people who get lipomas may be genetically predisposed to them.
While the causes of lipoma are unclear, they are a common occurrence, seen in about 1 percent of the population. A lipoma looks like a small, fatty lump under the skin that moves slightly when pushed with a finger. They are slow growing and can stay small or expand. Regardless of the causes of lipoma, it can develop at any stage of life, but seems to present itself more commonly in middle age. They can very rarely be found in other parts of the body, such as the gastrointestinal tract or reproductive organs.
A lipoma is usually painless and does not require immediate treatment. It is easily diagnosed by the general practitioner. Medical intervention should be sought if pain develops or if the lipoma changes shape or texture. If the lipoma sits over a nerve or contains many blood vessels, you may feel a little pain.
If your doctor isn’t sure about the nature of the lump, it may be removed for biopsy. No link has been established between lipoma and malignancies or cancer. In some cases, where the lipoma is large, disfiguring, or in a highly visible location, the lipoma may be removed for cosmetic reasons. Otherwise, regardless of the causes of the lipoma, they do not require any treatment.
While the actual causes of lipoma are not known, it appears that there are some risk factors that could make some people more prone to developing them. These include genetic predisposition, age and other conditions such as Cowden syndrome which is a genetic condition. People in their 40s and 60s are more likely to develop a lipoma.
If your doctor decides to remove the lipoma, the procedure is minor and usually done as an outpatient procedure, not requiring an overnight stay in the hospital. The area around the lipoma will be injected with a local anesthetic to prevent any pain, and a small incision will be made in the skin. The lipoma will be removed through the cut and stitched up. A slight scar may remain.
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