Removing a fat lump, how does that happen? A fat lump or lipoma is a benign growth of fatty tissue cells and in principle does not require treatment. If it bothers you or you find it cosmetically disturbing, this may be a reason to have the bump or bump removed. A fat lump can be removed by the doctor, unless it is large or in a technically difficult place. In that case, a referral to the hospital will take place. The fat lump is then removed by a surgeon.
Remove fat lump
- What is a fat lump?
- Preferred fat spots
- Anywhere on the body
- Dercum’s disease
- When is treatment necessary?
- How is a fat lump removed?
- Minor surgery
- Disinfecting the skin
- After the procedure
- Can a fat lump come back?
What is a fat lump?
A fat lump or lipoma is a benign subcutaneous growth consisting of fatty tissue cells. A fatty lump is a fatty tissue tumor that is benign. A fat lump lies just under the skin and has the shape of a round, sometimes painful, oval bump. Fat bumps vary in size from a few millimeters to sometimes more than 10 cm. A fat lump can be recognized by a very soft consistency.
Preferred fat spots
Anywhere on the body
Fat bumps are common. They can occur anywhere on the body where fat cells are located, but preferred locations are:
- trunk;
- neck;
- upper legs;
- upper arms; and
- armpits.
Dercum’s disease
You may have one or more fat lumps. Some people are predisposed to developing fat bumps. If there are many fatty lumps or lipomas (lipomatosis), which are also painful when touched or spontaneously, it is called Dercum’s disease. It is unknown what causes lipomas. Women suffer from it more often than men.
When is treatment necessary?
Often no treatment is required for a fat lump because there is no medical need for it. A fat lump is only removed if it is bothersome or painful. Depending on the location and size of the fat lump, it can hinder the performance of daily activities and cause pain. If you find it cosmetically disturbing, you can also have a fat lump removed. In that case, it is (often) not reimbursed by the health insurer. Occasionally it happens that a lipoma is suspected of being malignant. Only in rare cases can a lipoma degenerate (become malignant) into a liposarcoma: a malignant tumor of fat cells, usually seen in the thigh or abdominal cavity.
General practitioner with patient / Source: Istock.com/monkeybusinessimages
How is a fat lump removed?
Minor surgery
Removing a fatty lump is usually a minor procedure that can be performed under local anesthesia by your GP or at a hospital outpatient clinic. Sometimes the doctor sends the tissue to a laboratory for (microscopic) examination. The results will come after about two weeks. A GP can remove a lipoma, unless it is large or in a technically difficult location. In that case, a referral to the hospital will take place. Large lumps can also be removed using liposuction, where the doctor sucks away the fatty tissue.
Disinfecting the skin
Before the procedure, the fat lump and the surrounding skin are disinfected. You will then receive an anesthetic injection that locally anesthetizes the skin. The skin is covered with a sterile cloth and an opening is made in the cloth at the site of the procedure. The doctor makes an incision in the skin, after which the bump is cut away. The wound will often be sutured and the stitches can be removed after 5 (facial) to 14 days. After the wound has been sutured, a plaster or bandage will be placed on the wound.
After the procedure
After the procedure, swelling will occur at the site where the lipoma was removed. This swelling will disappear naturally in the weeks following the treatment. A small scar is often left behind. In people with dark skin, the scar often remains more visible. Over the years, the scar may fade or even disappear completely.
Can a fat lump come back?
Removed fat lumps rarely return. Sometimes it is not possible to remove the fat lump completely because the tissue does not differ greatly from normal fatty tissue. In that case there is a fairly high chance of a local recurrence. Lipomas can also develop in other places, which will then be eligible for treatment at some point.
read more
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