Diagnosis
As a rule, your dermatologist will already recognize a lipoma by means of a glance or touch diagnosis. Mostly it is of soft consistency, well palpable, lobed and easily movable. Sometimes, however, the fat nodes may feel rather rough and hard.
Their size ranges from the size of a pea to the size of a small soccer! In addition, the questioning (anamnesis) of the patient provides valuable information. Especially the growth rate and variability of the lipoma are of great importance, since lipomas usually grow slowly and show few changes.
In order to exclude malignant events, such as a liposarcoma, your dermatologist may also use an ultrasound examination. In very rare cases, an MRI scan may even be necessary. Since not all lipomas in the arm area cause complaints, therapeutic intervention is not always necessary.However, if the following criteria are met, removal may be indicated: In principle, there are various options available for removing the lipoma.
Your family doctor will decide with you which method is best suited to you. If your lipoma does not cause any discomfort and does not interfere cosmetically either, no therapy is necessary. Attentive observation (“Watchful Waiting”) for any changes or possible limitations, such as pain, is completely sufficient.
- Pain
- Sensitivities
- Doubts about benignity, e.g. in case of rapid growth tendency
- Aesthetic/cosmetic limitations
- OP: Usually lipomas are removed in a short operation under local anesthesia. Smaller lipomas can be removed quickly and easily through an incision that is kept as small as possible. In the outpatient procedures, patients can usually be discharged home after a short time.
In the case of larger or unfavorably localized fat tissue tumors, surgery under general anesthesia may also be considered. Since good results can be achieved with even a minimal skin incision, the scarring is usually rather minor.
- Lipolysis: The latest method for removing the disturbing fat nodes is the so-called “lipolysis” (see: injection lipolysis). If affected persons suffer from lipomas on the forearm, for example, scars resulting from the surgical removal can be very unpleasant from a cosmetic point of view.
In lipolysis, fat-dissolving substances are applied directly into the lipoma with a small syringe (“fat-away syringe”) and subsequently cause a “melting” of the fat cells. In contrast to surgical removal, the lipoma cannot be examined histologically (“under the microscope”) with this method. Therefore, if there is the slightest doubt about the benignity, lipolysis must not be used.
- Liposuction: In some cases, especially with larger lipomas, liposuction may also be the method of choice.
Similar to cosmetic liposuction, liquid is injected into the lipoma under local anesthesia. The fat accumulation is then sucked out through a large cannula. Only the puncture site remains.
