Prophylaxis
Since the trigger for the degeneration of the fat cells has not been found to date, but a genetic component seems to play a role, prophylaxis is not possible.
Prognosis
The prognosis is good. The procedure of removal is in itself uncomplicated. Complications such as bleeding and infections occur only rarely. However, the lipoma can occur repeatedly. These recurrences (recurrence of a lipoma) are almost always just as benign and harmless as their predecessors.
Summary
A lipoma is a benign growth of fatty tissue. Its consistency is soft or prallelastic. As a rule, lipomas do not cause any discomfort, nor are lipomas painful.
Removal is therefore only necessary for cosmetic reasons. In most cases, these tumors occur on the arms, legs and trunk. In extremely rare cases, tumors of fat can also be malignant.
They are then called liposarcomas. The age at which a lipoma most frequently occurs is between the ages of 20 and 25. The growth progresses very slowly.
Several of these lipomas can occur over time. If these are close together, one speaks of a lipomatosis. Here, too, different forms can be distinguished.