Lipoma: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Removal

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Medical News TodaySubscribeExamining PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrumContent created by Medical News Today and supported by advertising. Learn moreLipoma (lump under skin)

Medically reviewed by Amanda Caldwell, MSN, APRN-C — Written by Joana Cavaco Silva — Updated on December 20, 2024

Types
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Diagnosis
Removal
Contacting a doctor
Summary

Key takeaways

Lipomas are noncancerous masses of fat cells that typically appear as soft, movable lumps under the skin.
Although the exact cause is unknown, genetics, certain medical conditions, and injuries may increase the risk of developing lipomas.
Lipomas are usually harmless and may not require treatment unless they cause pain, discomfort, or cosmetic concerns; in such cases, surgical removal is an option.

Lipomas can occur anywhere on the body where fat cells are present, but they tend to appear on the shoulders, chest, trunk, neck, thighs, and armpits. In less common cases, they may form in internal organs, bones, or muscles.

Lipomas feel soft and may move slightly under the skin when people press down on them. They usually grow slowly over months or years and typically grow between 1 and 10 centimeters (cm).

Types of lipoma

A view from above of a patient and doctor discussing a lump on the arm.-2 — SDI Productions/Getty Images

Lipomas are benign masses of fat cells. There are several subtypes of lipoma, such as:

angiolipomas
angiomyolipomas
myelolipomas
fibrolipomas
hibernomas
ossifying lipoma
spindle cell lipomas
pleomorphic lipomas
chondroid lipomas
neural fibrolipomas

Lipomas are not the same as liposarcomas. Liposarcomas are a cancerous mass of fat cells. Lipomas cannot turn into liposarcomas, but the two types of tumors can look very similar.

Symptoms of lipoma

A person with a lipoma will typically feel a soft, oval-shaped lump just beneath the skin. Lipomas are usually painless and do not cause other symptoms.

Someone with a lipoma that occurs deeper under the skin may not be able to see or feel it.

However, a deep lipoma may place pressure on internal organs or nerves and cause associated symptoms. For example, a person with a lipoma on or near the bowels may experience nausea, vomiting, and constipation.

What causes a lipoma?

Experts do not fully understand what causes a lipoma.

Some people inherit a faulty gene from their parents that can cause one or more lipomas. This is rare and is known as familial multiple lipomatosis.

Researchers associate lipomas with some medical conditions, including:

Gardner’s syndrome
Cowden syndrome
Madelung’s disease
adiposis dolorosa

Some lipomas may also result from an injury that involves a substantial impact on the area.

Risk factors for lipoma

Lipomas are fairly common. Experts estimate that around 1% of people have a lipoma and that they are typically underreported.

People who have a family relative with one or more lipomas may have a higher risk of developing them. They may also be more likely to occur in people ages 40 to 60.

Other risk factors for developing a lipoma may include:

obesity
high cholesterol
diabetes

Diagnosing lipomas

For lipomas that are not too deep, doctors may be able to make a diagnosis with a simple physical examination. This will involve looking at and feeling the lump. If the lipoma is large or painful, the doctor may order tests to check if it is cancerous.

They may also use the following tests for lipomas that are deeper:

ultrasound scan
MRI scan
CT scan

In some cases, a doctor will perform a biopsy. They will remove a small sample of cells from the lump and examine the tissue under a microscope to look for signs of cancer.

When is lipoma removal necessary?

Lipomas are usually harmless, so most people do not need to have surgery to remove them. People may choose surgical removal if the lump:

is cancerous
is large or growing quickly
causes bothersome symptoms, such as pain and discomfort
interferes with body functions
causes distress for cosmetic reasons
the doctor is unable to confirm it is a lipoma rather than another type of tumor

Lipoma removal procedure

A doctor can usually remove a lipoma surgically. One method is to make a small cut in the skin and then squeeze out the lipoma. The person is usually under local anesthesia during the procedure and should be able to return home on the same day.

A doctor may need to make a more significant incision to remove larger lipomas entirely, and liposuction may be necessary.

To use liposuction, the doctor will need to cut into the lump and insert a thin, hollow tube through the incision. They will then use the tube to suck the mass of fat cells out of the body.

After surgery, the doctor may send the lipoma material to a laboratory for analysis to make sure that it is definitely a lipoma and not a cancerous tumor.

When to see a doctor

People should always tell their doctor if they notice changes in a lipoma or if more lumps appear. These changes might involve the lipoma:

increasing in size or suddenly growing very quickly
being painful
becoming red or hot
turning into a hard or immovable lump
causing visible changes in the overlying skin

Summary

Lipomas are harmless, fatty tumors that can form under the skin. They are usually painless and do not require treatment. However, a doctor can surgically remove a lipoma if it causes pain or other symptoms or if someone wants to get rid of it for cosmetic reasons.

Fatty tumors can be benign or cancerous. However, most experts agree that lipomas do not usually become cancerous. It is essential to seek medical advice if a lipoma becomes painful, gets larger, or changes in any other way.

Doctors may be able to diagnose a lipoma with a physical exam, but in some cases, they may need to perform a biopsy and send tissue to a lab to ensure the tumor is not cancerous.

Cholesterol
Dermatology
Diabetes
Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Charifa A, et al. (2022). Lipoma pathology.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482343/
Kolb L, et al. (2023). Lipoma.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507906/
Lipoma. (2023).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lipoma/
Liposarcoma. (2023).https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/liposarcoma/

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Medically reviewed by Amanda Caldwell, MSN, APRN-C — Written by Joana Cavaco Silva — Updated on December 20, 2024

Lipoma: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Removal

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Key takeaways

Types of lipoma

Symptoms of lipoma

What causes a lipoma?

Risk factors for lipoma

Diagnosing lipomas

When is lipoma removal necessary?

Lipoma removal procedure

When to see a doctor

Summary

How we reviewed this article:

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