Therapy
The common lipoma requires no further therapy. It can only be removed surgically if it visually disturbs the affected person, if it is located on a body part where it causes pain or if it is very large.Other methods such as dietary changes, massage or special creams have not been scientifically proven to prevent the development of lipomas or to remove them. If the lipoma is located in the subcutaneous fatty tissue, it can usually be cut out by a surgeon under local anesthesia.
In this case, only a small skin incision is made over the fat tumor, which is then pressed out and the overlying skin sutured again. It is also advisable to apply a pressure bandage for a few days after the operation. However, this type of surgery usually leaves a scar, which may be more visible than the original lipoma.
Another method that can be used for smaller lipomas is suction or liposuction. Although this leaves smaller scars, it is more difficult to remove all the lipoma tissue. If a remnant of a lipoma remains in the body, the risk of recurrence is increased.
Particularly large lipomas that are located deeper or even in the abdominal cavity usually require surgery under general anesthesia. As with any other operation, there are certain risks and complications that can occur with smaller operations under local anesthesia. These include possible bleeding, injury to adjacent structures or infection of the wound. However, if the operation is performed under hygienic conditions and by an experienced physician, the overall risk of these complications is relatively low. If the operation is performed under general anesthesia, additional factors must also be taken into account, but these should be clarified again in each individual case.
Prognosis
Lipomas usually have a very good prognosis. They only very rarely degenerate into malignant tumors and are usually not accompanied by any further impairment due to their small size and slow growth. However, if they are visually disturbing, lipomas can usually be removed completely without any problems and by a very small, usually outpatient procedure.
Lipomas in the breast are not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. However, if they increase in size or are perceived as disturbing, they should still be removed.
