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Treatments and drugs

By Mayo Clinic staff

No treatment is usually necessary for a lipoma. However, if the lipoma is in a bothersome location, is painful or is growing, your doctor might recommend that it be removed. Lipoma treatments include:

  • Steroid injections. This treatment shrinks the lipoma, but usually doesn't completely eliminate the tumor.
  • Liposuction. This treatment uses a needle and a large syringe to remove the fatty tumor. Liposuction is usually done when the lipoma is in a location where you want to avoid a large scar. It's difficult to remove the entire tumor with this technique.
  • Surgical removal. Larger lipomas are best removed by surgically cutting them out. Recurrences after removal are uncommon.

DS00634

Jan. 11, 2008

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