Lipoma of the head
In the face, lipomas rarely form due to the subcutaneous fat layer, which is normally only very slightly pronounced. One area where they are still somewhat more common is the earlobes or the transition from the hairy scalp to the neck. On the head, lipomas are rather unfavorable for two reasons.
On the one hand, they are very conspicuous there due to their exposed position and on the other hand, because of the thin layer of fat, which is otherwise very thin, and they often put a lot of strain on the person affected. In addition, surgical removal is sometimes more challenging here because many important structures in the face and head, such as nerves and vessels, are located in a very confined space and must not be injured under any circumstances. Liposuction is ultimately out of the question, as the risk of damage is far too high with this method.
Pain with a lipoma
As a benign tumor of the fatty tissue, a lipoma usually causes no symptoms until it reaches a size at which it becomes visible or palpable (see: Lipoma symptoms). Similarly, a lipoma normally causes no pain unless it is unfavorably located by compressing nerve tracts. The irritation of these nerve fibers leads to the sensation of pain or to sensory disturbances (sensitivity disorders) in certain areas. Thus, the larger the lipoma becomes, the greater the probability that the tumor will press on other structures such as nerve tracts and thus become symptomatic. Depending on its location, the subcutaneous tissue is supplied with nerves to varying degrees (innervated), so the occurrence of pain also depends on the location of the lipoma.
How dangerous is lipoma?
Although the lipoma belongs to the tumors, it is always defined as a benign tumor. A lipoma is therefore never a malignant tumor or cancer. In contrast to a malignant tumor, a lipoma does not form metastases and does not grow into surrounding tissue (invasiveness).
Furthermore, a lipoma bears no risk of degeneration into a malignant tumor. Malignant tumors of fatty tissue are called liposarcomas and do not arise from benign lipomas.In contrast to other tumorous growths, the lipoma does not have to be removed because of an imminent degeneration. From a medical point of view, there is no reason to remove a lipoma unless it presses on blood vessels or nerves and thus becomes symptomatic.
If this is the case, or if the lipoma is perceived as cosmetically disturbing by the affected person, the tumor can be removed. If a lipoma becomes symptomatic by compressing nerves or blood vessels, it can be removed by surgery. If this is not the case, removal is not necessary from a medical point of view.
However, lipomas are often perceived as cosmetically disturbing and the affected person therefore decides to have the tumor removed. The most common location for a lipoma is on the back, where removal is uncomplicated and is performed routinely. The procedure can be performed by a surgeon in private practice or in hospital and is usually performed under local anesthesia (local anesthesia) of the affected area.
Since the lipoma, as a benign tumor, is usually sharply defined and not caked to surrounding structures, it can be easily excised. If the lipoma is very large, a visible dent may remain due to the removed tissue. In general, the formation of a scar is usually unavoidable.
On the back, where less vital fine structures run, the removal of the lipoma is also possible with the method of liposuction. Here the scarring is significantly reduced compared to the conservative method, because instead of a large incision only the small tube for suctioning the fat growth has to be inserted. Also the formation of dents can usually be prevented with the suction method.
A disadvantage, however, is that the suction procedure usually leaves individual cells in the body and the risk of a renewed formation of a lipoma is very high. If the lipoma is not located on the back but, for example, on the neck, surgical removal may be indicated at an early stage, depending on the neighboring structures. At the neck, there is a risk that the carotid artery (arteria carotis) will be compressed, causing pressure on neighboring nerves and thus pain.
