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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffNo treatment is usually necessary for a lipoma. However, if the lipoma is in a location that bothers you, is painful or is growing, your doctor might recommend that it be removed. Lipoma treatments include:
- Surgical removal. Most lipomas are removed surgically by cutting them out. Recurrences after removal are uncommon.
- 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 lump.
References
- Collison DW. Lipomas. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch127/ch127f.html. Accessed Oct. 29, 2011.
- Kuwano Y, et al. Efficacy of diagnostic ultrasonography of lipomas, epidermal cysts and ganglions. Archives of Dermatology. 2009;145:761.
- Wolff K, et al. Benign neoplasms and hyperplasias. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Color Atlas & Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology in General Medicine. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5202138. Accessed October 29, 2011.
- Brenn T. Neoplasms of subcutaneous fat. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=505. Accessed Oct. 29, 2011.
- Pandya KA, et al. Benign skin lesions: Lipomas, epidermal inclusion cysts, muscle and nerve biopsies. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2009;89:677.
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