What is a lipoma: causes, symptoms, treatment, removal

They grow slowly and are usually not a nuisance.

These are lipomas - formations that form from fat cells under the surface of the skin.

Doctors consider lipomas to be benign formations, that is, they are not initially dangerous. But they can cause serious harm. Therefore, any changes need to be monitored.

What is the difference between lipoma and atheroma?

Patients often confuse these benign formations, despite their different origins. Yes, outwardly it is difficult to distinguish them. But the symptoms and complications of the diseases are not similar and therefore doctors treat them with different methods. We talked about the nature of lipoma. Now let's describe the essence of atheroma.

This is the name of a skin cyst that occurs when the sebaceous glands become clogged. It consists of waste products of glands, closed by a membrane.

Mainly appears on the head. It does not form in areas of the body where there are no sebaceous glands.

It often gets inflamed. Swelling and pain occur in the area of ​​the atheroma. Any tumor of this type must be removed urgently. Medicines won't help.

But lipomas are mostly harmless and you can live with them for decades.

We will talk in detail about what to do with lipoma later. For now, let's focus on identifying the formation.

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What does a lipoma look like?

Fatty soft subcutaneous formations are not fixed in one place and move slightly if you press on them. The skin over the lipoma does not change. It looks healthy - does not darken, does not redden and maintains normal elasticity.

How big does a lipoma look?

New growths grow very slowly. Within a few years they reach 2-3 cm, and only in the rarest cases do they grow up to 10 cm. Such lipomas are called giant.

The larger the lipoma, the more dangerous it is. Not by itself, but because it puts pressure on neighboring tissues and can disrupt blood circulation. In addition, large tumors are a serious cosmetic problem, especially when they form on exposed parts of the body.

Sometimes not one lipoma grows, but several. But most patients have no more than one or two. Dozens of lipomas are rare. Mostly men face this problem. Doctors call the phenomenon multiple familial lipomatosis.

From the description of lipomas, let's move on to the reasons for their occurrence.

Treatment of lipomas with pharmaceutical products

Those who prefer to use pharmaceutical drugs should purchase Vishnevsky ointment. This product should be applied to an adhesive plaster and attached to the affected area, after 2 days the plaster should be replaced with a new one.

You can also use hydrogen peroxide. This drug should be regularly lubricated. After a few days, the skin on the affected area will burst and the contents of the wen will leak out.

lipoma treatment

Why do lipomas appear?

Doctors still don't know exactly why lipomas form. Some people inherit a predisposition to developing these tumors. However, only a small number of such cases are known.

However, the doctors proved something. Most often, lipomas occur in people with diseases:

• Cowden's syndrome

Occurs in one person in a million. It manifests itself in a large number of formations that arise in the gastrointestinal tract and other organs.

• Banayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome

One of the variants of Cowden's syndrome. Causes the growth of many benign formations and mental retardation. Increases the risk of cancer.

• Gardner's syndrome

Patients develop benign tumors. Mainly on the skin and bones.

• Madelung's disease

Growth of fat masses around the back, neck and shoulder girdle. A little-studied disease - only 300 cases are known.

• Painful obesity

A rare disorder that causes many painful lipomas to form.

Some researchers associate the appearance of lipomas with injuries after a strong blow. Post-traumatic lipomas.

Other risk factors:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Liver disease

Lipomas are very rare in children. And in adults they grow mainly not in youth, but closer to 40 years. Most often they form in men and women between 40 and 60 years old, especially if there are known cases of lipomas in the family.

Doctors suggest that up to 1% of the world's population is affected by such formations. Probably even more. It is impossible to know for sure, because many people are not bothered by neoplasms and they go to the doctor only to find out why the lipoma is inflamed.

Benign tumors are fatty tumors, why do they appear?

The objective reasons for the appearance of wen are still unknown to medicine, but doctors have discovered predisposing factors that could become prerequisites:

• dysfunction of the fat metabolic process;
• hereditary factor;
• hormonal imbalance;
• sudden fluctuations in a person’s weight;
• metabolic disorder associated with a lack of enzymatic protein;
• against the background of a weakened immune system;
• diabetes;
• obstruction of the ducts of the sebaceous glands;
• tight fit of clothing to parts of the body;
• trauma and post-traumatic conditions;
• problems related to nutrition (food without proteins and vitamins);
• ionizing radiation;
• disruptions in the functioning of the nervous system;
• unhealthy lifestyle: tobacco or alcohol abuse;
• age criterion: the risk of developing a wen increases after forty years;
• dysfunction of the biliary tract.

Rice. 3. Lipoma is a type of wen.

Where do lipomas usually appear?

Neoplasms from adipose tissue can occur anywhere on the body. However, their favorite places are:

• Breast
• Shoulders
• Hands
• Neck
• Armpits

Where does a lipoma form quite rarely?

On the back and stomach, as well as near internal organs, bones and muscles.

Depending on the location, lipomas are divided into several types:

• Breast lipomas

Formed in women after menopause. They appear inside the gland and are asymptomatic. Doctors detect them by chance - through ultrasound or mammography. Lipoma is not dangerous and rarely turns into cancer.

• Brain lipomas

They can appear in any part of the brain, but do not affect health because they have no symptoms. There is no need to treat them. The operation will not bring any benefit, and besides, it is also dangerous due to possible complications.

• Spinal cord lipomas

May interfere with urination and cause back pain. Large tumors sometimes put pressure on the spinal cord, but such cases are rare. The formations are removed surgically.

• Epidural lipomatosis

Excessive accumulation of fat between the vertebrae and spinal cord. Formed in Cushing's syndrome and severe obesity. Treated by weight loss.

• Angiomyolipoma

Formation from adipose tissue and excessively enlarged blood vessels. Grows in the lumbar and thoracic spine. Sometimes it puts pressure on nerve endings, which causes back pain - such tumors need to be treated. Small lipomas do not need to be removed.

Lipoma often causes complications, and the location where it appears plays a big role. Almost any neoplasm can become dangerous.

Preparation for the procedure

In case of subcutaneous lipoma removal, no special preparation is required. The mini-surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning it does not require hospitalization. The surgeon performs all necessary manipulations under local anesthesia. Thus, the procedure is painless for the patient.

Giant subcutaneous lipomas, as well as neoplasms of the intestines, internal organs, and peritoneum require more serious and thorough preparation. Operations of this type are carried out with hospitalization of the patient. Before the intervention, samples are taken and, if necessary, additional studies are done. Operations performed under general anesthesia require restriction of water and food on the eve of the operation.

Why are lipomas dangerous?

Lipomas are harmless.

Most of them.

They grow very slowly and usually do not cause discomfort. Until they become too large and begin to put pressure on surrounding nerves, organs and blood vessels. Then pain arises.

If you have been diagnosed with a lipoma, this is not a death sentence. Most likely, you will live with her for many years and will rarely remember her existence.

Or you'll be out of luck.

The lipoma is growing and will turn into a giant tumor larger than 10 cm. It will put pressure on the spine. To other organs. For example, a mass near the intestines often causes constipation and vomiting.

What can a lipoma degenerate into??

Doctors do not yet have a consensus about the transformation of benign neoplasms into cancer cells.

Here's one point of view.

Malignant lipoma from adipose tissue is called liposarcoma. It is not the result of lipoma degeneration, but a separate species. Some treating doctors sometimes confuse lipoma and liposarcoma.

But doctors have a different opinion.

Lipoma contains benign and malignant cells. In the rarest of cases, she is reborn.

Let's summarize.

The likelihood of a wen turning into cancer is still in question. But it is known for sure that it does not always remain harmless. Sometimes it needs to be treated.

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Lipoma is the most common soft tissue tumor and consists of fat cells surrounded by a thin fibrous capsule. Popularly, such a neoplasm is called a wen.

Often, a person who is attentive to his body may stumble upon such a subcutaneous formation. Such a finding can cause, at a minimum, caution, and sometimes fear of the oncological process. The unknown is always scary. If you have any concerns, you should consult your doctor. In most cases, subcutaneous neoplasms in soft tissues are benign and do not pose a threat to the owner of the wen. However, lipomas still require the supervision of a specialist who must recognize a malignant process, if one occurs.

Peculiar red flags, signs that make you wary, are rapid tumor growth, pain, and the presence of two or more similar formations on the body.

By external signs, lipoma is little distinguishable from liposarcoma, hygroma, subcutaneous cyst, hematoma, parasitic invasion, inflammation or consequences of injury. Therefore, it is important that any neoplasms be examined by a doctor.

First of all, the question of the malignancy of the tumor is decided at the appointment. Liposarcoma occurs more often in middle-aged and elderly people. This is an aggressive and fast-growing tumor that can put pressure on surrounding organs and tissues and cause pain. Situations when an existing lipoma degenerates into a malignant tumor rarely occur. However, the oncological process requires a radically different approach to diagnosis and treatment, so it is important to diagnose it as early as possible.

Lipomas may have a hereditary predisposition. This fact, combined with the spread of wen to other parts of the body, makes the doctor suspect lipomatosis. Lipomatosis accompanies a number of hereditary syndromes such as Madelung's disease and Dercum's syndrome. Diseases with a family history require a special approach to therapy.

Diagnosis and detection of lipoma

Doctors usually diagnose lipomas during an examination. They examine the tumor and check the patient’s sensations. They are well aware of what a lipoma looks like, so in most cases additional tests are not needed.

However, there are exceptions.

Other neoplasms are similar to lipoma. Sometimes a simple examination is not enough to distinguish them - research is necessary:

• Biopsy

The doctor cuts off a small part of the growth and examines the sample under a microscope. This is how it detects signs of cancer.

• Ultrasound, MRI and radiography

These studies show neoplasms on internal organs.

Also, with the help of ultrasound, the doctor can easily determine which formation is a lipoma and which is an atheroma.

By structure

Lipomas according to these characteristics are divided into:

• Classic (there is only fatty tissue inside);
• Angiolipomas (have vessels inside);
• Hibernomas (in the fiber there are formations similar to the formations of hibernating animals);
• Myelolipomas (hematopoietic and adipose tissue are located together);
• Myxolipomas (contain mucous tissue elements inside);
• Myolipomas (muscle fibers are found together with fatty tissue);
• Fibrolipomas (there is connective and fatty tissue inside).

How to get rid of lipoma

If you have a lipoma, then you do not need to remove it. More likely. But sometimes people want to get rid of even harmless wen, because the tumors:

• Grow fast
• Cause pain and discomfort
• Disturbs the functioning of organs
• They spoil the appearance

Sometimes doctors prescribe removal of formations that could not be diagnosed as lipomas. It is better to remove unknown tumors - this way you will reduce the threat of cancer.

How do doctors treat lipoma?

Basic methods:

• Surgery

The doctor makes an incision in the skin over the formation, and then squeezes out the tumor. The larger the lipoma, the larger the incision should be. The method is not always successful, since it is difficult for the doctor to remove the entire lipoma, and it often grows back.

• Liposuction

Since the lipoma is made of fat, it can be pumped out through a thin tube. Liposuction successfully reduces the size of the tumor.

• Steroids

The doctor injects steroids into the lipoma, after which it shrinks and no longer hurts. The procedure does not remove the formation.

• Laser removal

A safe operation that eliminates tumors larger than 3 cm. The laser beam does not damage healthy tissue and prevents bleeding and infection.

What is the best way to remove a lipoma?

The doctor will choose the appropriate treatment method after checking the formation. He needs to know:

• Lipoma size
• Number of neoplasms
• Family and personal history of skin cancer
• Feelings from education

(cost of one procedure)

*the cost of anesthesia is taken into account separately

Make an appointment with a dermatologist

Unfortunately, it is impossible to get rid of it on your own. If the lipoma interferes or grows quickly, then go for an examination with a doctor. Which one exactly? Now we'll talk about it.

How a doctor can help you remove a wen

It is highly advisable that lipoma removal be performed by an experienced specialist. After a thorough examination, a dermatologist may prescribe the following procedures to remove wen:

• Mechanical cleaning. This method is considered the simplest. The procedure is carried out by piercing the wen with a needle, after which all its contents are removed. Sometimes the procedure is performed under local anesthesia.
• Removal of lipoma with laser . Laser therapy is considered the most progressive method for removing fatty tissue. The procedure is very quick and does not leave scars. In addition, the possibility of the wen reappearing in the same place is excluded.

Who treats lipomas

A dermato-surgeon diagnoses and removes tumors from adipose tissue. He deals with all subcutaneous formations.

So if you are wondering which doctor eliminates lipomas, then you need to contact just such a specialist.

You cannot remove the wen at home. You won't be able to get rid of a lipoma on your own - it will simply grow back and most likely become inflamed. And you will have to go to a dermatosurgeon. It is better to make an appointment right away - this way you will save time and remove the problematic lipoma without unnecessary hassle.

Where to go for lipoma treatment?

Any clinic with dermato-surgeons will do. Perhaps there is one in your area or someone you know can recommend a suitable institution.

Another option is to go to the Lasersvit clinic.

What's good about it?

The doctors at the Lasersvit clinic are not young doctors who have recently graduated from medical university. We employ specialists with over 17 years of experience. Dermatologists and dermato-surgeons of the highest category. They managed to examine over 100,000 people and are well versed in all types of neoplasms. Completed training abroad. We studied the latest research on different types of formations.

Our dermatosurgeons remove lipomas using a laser or scalpel. The cost of the procedure depends on the location and size of the tumors; removal of tumors on the head is usually more expensive. If necessary, several lipomas can be removed. Fast, safe, painless.

Make an appointment at the Lasersvit clinic and deal with dangerous or irritating tumors forever.

How to remove wen using traditional methods

If it is not possible to visit a doctor’s office, you can try to remove the lipoma yourself. But this applies only to those formations that have appeared recently. If the lipoma is old, it needs to be treated only surgically.

Baked onion

Onions are considered one of the most effective means for removing wen. Do the procedure at least 2 times a day.

1. Take one medium onion and bake in the oven.
2. Grind the cooled onion using a meat grinder.
3. Grate baby soap, add to onion and mix thoroughly.
4. Apply the resulting mass as a compress to the wen.

Sour cream with honey

Before the procedure, you need to take a hot bath to steam the wen. Then the components of the prepared remedy for wen will better penetrate the adipose tissue of the tumor. Carry out the procedure every other day.

1. Mix equal amounts of sour cream, honey and sea salt.
2. Apply the resulting mixture to the problem area.
3. After 20 minutes, rinse with warm water.

The examination and removal will be carried out by the country's leading dermatologists

They were trained abroad and have already examined more than 50,000 patients

Ladygina Evgenia Igorevna

Dermatologist

Specialty: Has the specialties of dermatologist and dermatovenerologist.

Work experience: 3 years

Education: In 2021, she graduated from V. N. Karazin Kharkov National University.

Treatment of diseases: Dermatoscopy. Diagnosis of skin neoplasms. Laser removal of moles, warts, condylomas and papillomas. Elimination of tattoos, age spots.

Belskaya Elena Alexandrovna

Chief physician. Dermatologist

Specialty: General Medicine.

Work experience: 17 years.

Education: Kharkov State Medical University 2003

Treatment of diseases: Treats chronic skin diseases: psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, eczema. Fights skin infections - pyoderma, fungal diseases. Removes tattoos. Detects and treats skin tumors: warts, condylomas, hemangiomas, moles.

Krasiy Irina Nikolaevna

Dermatologist of the first category.

Specialty: General Medicine.

Work experience: 17 years.

Education: Kharkov State Medical University 2003

Treatment of diseases: Diagnosis, treatment and removal of skin tumors (warts, papillomas, condylomas, moles, molluscum contagiosum, hemangiomas, spider veins, pigmentation), treatment of chronic skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema, atopic dermatitis), skin infections (pyoderma, fungal diseases ), removal of tattoos, permanent makeup.

Bidnichenko Natalya Levonovna

Dermatologist of the highest category

Specialty: Dermatology.

Work experience: 15 years.

Education: Odessa State Medical University 2003

Treatment of diseases: Treats skin diseases - psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema. Helps get rid of pyoderma and other skin infections. Identifies dangerous tumors and removes them. Checks papillomas, moles, hemangiomas, keratomas, fibromas, condylomas, vascular cobwebs.

Biyukova-Polshakova Irina Lazarevna

Dermatologist of the second category

Specialty: Dermatology, trichology, clinical psychology.

Work experience: 11 years.

Education: Bukovinian Medical University 2007 Odessa National Medical University 2012

Treatment of diseases: Specializes in the elimination of psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis. Diagnoses and treats skin infections such as pyoderma. Identifies dangerous tumors and selects methods for their removal.

Make an appointment with a dermatologist

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