Sometimes you notice a benign thickening in your subcutaneous fat tissue. This is a harmless, benign fatty growth called a lipoma.
What is a lipoma?
Lipomas usually appear as small nodules in the subcutaneous tissue of the arms, thighs or abdomen, but they can also be found in the muscles, chest, esophagus, respiratory tract and intestines. Lipomas rarely cause discomfort and therefore do not usually need to be removed. Only if it is a malignant tumor, a liposarcoma, removal and treatment is mandatory. Lipomas are thickened nodes in the subcutaneous tissue, the subcutaneous layer. About half of all lipomas settle there. The size can vary from the size of a lentil to 20 centimeters. Under the microscope, a benign growth of fatty tissue can be seen that has become encapsulated. A lipoma sometimes appears at the age of about 20 to 25 years and usually grows very slowly. In principle, however, a lipoma can occur at any age. When lipomas occur in clusters, it is called lipomatosis. A lipoma can feel soft or bulging.
Causes
No exact causes are known for lipoma. As with other benign tumor formations in , it is not known why or what causes it. Physicians suspect a hereditary predisposition. In some affected individuals, changes have been found on chromosome 12. In addition, there are speculations that a lipoma could be triggered by a violent impact or bruising. Obesity as a cause has not been proven. Lean people are just as likely to be affected by lipomas as overweight people.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Lipoma rarely presents with symptoms. It is visible only as a rubbery lump under the skin that is usually easy to move. Moving the same not infrequently leads to a strange sensation. Often the lipoma appears to be numb. Otherwise, very few people who have a lipoma complain of any discomfort. In rare cases, pressing on a lipoma is painful. This is especially true for lipomas in which blood has collected. Such a lipoma can cause pain even without any external impact. This pain usually corresponds to a feeling of tension or pressure, rarely to an unpleasant pulling sensation. At most, lipomas in unfavorable locations still lead to symptoms. This is the case, for example, when one of the tumors presses against the carotid artery and reduces the blood flow to the brain. In such cases, dizziness and circulatory problems may occur. Furthermore, a lipoma can also affect tendons or nerves and cause pain during movements. There may also be a tingling sensation due to an impinged nerve or pain that is difficult to grasp. If such growths are touched, symptoms may be exacerbated. They may also increase if the lump migrates under the skin or grows larger.
Diagnosis and progression
A lipoma very rarely causes symptoms and is usually discovered by chance as a small subcutaneous thickening. A benign lipoma can be moved back and forth somewhat. A lipoma may cause discomfort if it is near a nerve pathway or is located at the joint. Because a small lipoma is difficult to distinguish from its surroundings, it is difficult to diagnose. A lipoma and the adjacent fatty tissue are difficult to distinguish from each other. One should consult a dermatologist for the diagnosis. To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor may puncture the lipoma to distinguish it from other benign growths, such as cysts, which are filled with fluid. Ultrasound can be used to determine the size of a lipoma. Computed tomography only needs to be performed if liposarcoma is suspected.
Complications
Due to lipoma, patients usually suffer from thickenings that appear on the affected person’s skin. In most cases, these thickenings occur on the abdomen, arms or legs. In most cases, there is no particular discomfort or pain. Other complications do not usually occur either. However, the aesthetics of the affected person may be limited by the lipoma, resulting in psychological discomfort or depression. Inferiority complexes or reduced self-esteem can also occur and reduce the patient’s quality of life.In some cases, lipoma can also negatively affect joints, causing pain. In most cases, treatment is carried out by surgical intervention. There are no particular complications or discomforts. In some cases, a scar may remain. The patient’s life expectancy is not affected by a lipoma. The lipoma can also be aspirated. In most cases, no scars remain. No other complications or discomfort will occur.
When should you go to the doctor?
If unusual skin changes such as growths, redness or lumps under the skin are noticed, a doctor should be consulted immediately. A medical professional must examine the signs and rule out or confirm lipoma as the cause. Treatment is necessary in any case, because if left untreated, the tumor can spread and spread to surrounding areas of the body. There is also a risk of malignant metastases forming. People who have already had a lipoma belong to the risk groups and should consult their family doctor if they have the symptoms described. The same applies to people who have a genetic predisposition, regularly take medication or have an increased risk of developing cancer due to an unhealthy lifestyle. Parents who notice lipoma symptoms in their child are best advised to consult their pediatrician immediately and have the signs clarified. In addition to the general practitioner, a dermatologist or internist may be consulted. If the growths are localized in the intestinal area, a gastroenterologist should also be consulted.
Treatment and therapy
In most cases, a lipoma does not need to be treated because it does not cause discomfort. However, if it is very large, attached to a nerve pathway or joint, and causes discomfort, it can be surgically removed. In most cases, local anesthesia is sufficient for this; only larger lipomas require general anesthesia. The surgeon removes the lipoma with its capsular tissue and sutures the wound. A small scar is usually left behind. In rare cases, complications may occur such as injury to the adjacent skin tissue, or bleeding, infection and wound healing problems may occur as in other surgical procedures. Sometimes even removal does not help, because the lipoma can form again as a recurrence in the same place and must be operated on a second time. A newer method is lipoma aspiration. This has the advantage of leaving smaller scars,but the disadvantage that not all fat cells may be removed as well. A smaller lipoma can also be removed by lipolysis (“fat-away injection”). Naturopathy sees lipomas as a congestion of metabolic waste products, which – instead of being removed – accumulate in the tissue. Accordingly, it starts with the lymphatic system and tries to stimulate it to eliminate the waste products using suitable healing methods.
Outlook and prognosis
In lipomas, the prognosis is very good. The capsules can be treated surgically or with medication and usually do not cause further complications. If lipomas are removed too late, permanent damage may already have occurred. Lipomas can, for example, press on organs and surrounding tissue and cause functional impairment. Lipomas can form again and again. In individual cases, the benign soft tissue tumor can develop into a chronic disease. For patients, this means regular visits to the doctor and exhaustive treatments. Very rarely, a lipoma can degenerate into a malignant liposarcoma. In general, however, the prognosis is positive. Subcutaneous lipomas can be permanently removed. They are a cosmetic problem, but do not pose a serious health risk. Typical complications may occur during treatment. The surgical scar may become inflamed or open. Any complications slow down recovery and can lead to permanent skin damage. The prognosis also depends on the location of the lipomas. If the tumors are located in the genital area or on the head, treatment is associated with risks. Doctors will inform the patient about the outlook before an intervention.
Prevention
The exact causes of lipoma formation are not known. Therefore, it is also difficult to take preventive measures.
Aftercare
A lipoma causes thickening on the skin, which in itself does not pose a health threat. Only the aesthetics suffer from the lipoma and are difficult to bear for those affected, which is why aftercare focuses on finding a good way to deal with the disease. Sometimes this promotes the development of depression and psychological complaints, which should be clarified with a psychologist. Therapy can help to promote a self-confident approach to the disease and increase the sense of well-being. Sufferers should try to focus on a positive healing process despite the adversities. To build the appropriate mindset, relaxation exercises and meditation can help calm and focus the mind. == What you can do yourself ==
In addition to the medical removal of a lipoma through surgery or a cosmetic procedure using liposuction, natural home remedies and natural medicine remedies for self-application can of course also help to treat a lipoma quickly. The most important thing for those affected is to change their diet. For example, avoiding artificial flavorings, consuming solid foods, and eliminating processed foods from the diet will help. In addition, an alkaline-surplus diet, plenty of sport and exercise, the use of mineral clay and the application of a deacidification cure or a detoxification cure are recommended. Mineral clay in particular has an increased binding capacity, which has a very positive effect on the rapid elimination of excess acids and metabolic waste products. Moreover, some herbs such as turmeric or sage can be very helpful in reducing lipoma. Honey and beeswax in particular can be very helpful in combating lipomas. Saturated fatty acids, refined oils, additional preservatives, pesticides as well as white flour and milk should be avoided as much as possible. A morning cup of lukewarm water with fresh lemon juice is recommended, as well as taking and increasing omega-3 fatty acids and fresh plant shoots.