Lipoma Removal

Consultations offered at our two convenient locations in Carnegie Hill and Flatiron, NY

A lipoma is a typically harmless fatty growth under the skin, most commonly appearing in areas like the arms, shoulders, back, neck, abdomen, and thighs. (1) Depending on the size and location of the lipomas, they may cause discomfort or pain—especially if they are located near a nerve or joint. If you are considering lipoma removal, it is important to seek out excellent care from an experienced specialist. At Dermatology, Laser & Surgery of Carnegie Hill and Dermatology, Laser & Surgery of Flatiron, our talented team, including our dermatology providers as well as our plastic surgeon, Dr. Elie Levine, is adept at lipoma removal and can provide you with exceptionally smooth and discreet results.

If a lipoma is bothering you cosmetically or functionally, we encourage you to reach out and schedule a consultation at the office of your choosing. You can fill out our online contact form or give us a call:

About Lipoma Removal

The most commonly recommended lipoma removal approach is surgical excision. (1) To perform this procedure, your specialist will make guiding markings around where your lipoma—or lipomas—are. After administering local anesthesia, they will make a small incision above the targeted growth.

Through this incision, they will extract the lipoma, aiming to address the entire growth. This is especially important, as removing the whole lipoma will help reduce the risk of recurrence.

Your specialist will use expert closure techniques to ensure the resulting scar is as discreet as possible.

Lipoma Removal Recovery

You can return to most of your normal activities right after your lipoma removal. The procedure typically only uses local anesthesia, so you will not experience the grogginess or other unwanted side effects associated with general anesthesia. Your specialist will provide you with a list of guidelines regarding how to keep your incisions clean, what activities you should avoid, and what you can expect your healing timeline to look like. Most patients see the treated area fully healed after about two to four weeks.

Other Treatment Methods

Liposuction for Lipoma Removal

In some cases, liposuction can be used to remove the fatty tissue that makes up the lipoma. This is less common because liposuction is not as effective for precisely removing the entire capsule. (2)

Steroid Injections for Lipomas

Some specialists use steroid injections to shrink and destroy the fat in the lipoma. These injections may reduce the size, but they cannot remove the entire lipoma. Results with this method tend to be less predictable and not as long-lasting. (3)

Laser-Assisted Lipoma Removal

Laser energy has been used to target and break down fat cells in a lipoma. This method is also less effective for removing the entire growth when compared to surgical removal. (4)

Types of Lipomas

  • Subcutaneous: This is by far the most common type, located just beneath the skin and feels soft and squishy.
  • Angiolipoma: These tend to be more painful as they involve blood vessels.
  • Fibrolipoma: These feel firmer, containing dense fibrous tissue as well as fat.
  • Spindle Cell: Rarer, and typically found in older adults. Usually of firmer texture because the fat cells are mixed with spindle cells.
  • Pleomorphic: Uncommon; contains fat cells and pleomorphic (unusually shaped) cells.
  • Hibernoma: Made up of brown fat instead of the normal white fat.
  • Intramuscular: These are lipomas that grow in muscle tissue.
  • Myelolipoma: Very rare, with fat and bone-marrow–like tissue.
  • Giant Lipoma: These are lipomas that exceed 10cm in diameter.

Benefits of Lipoma Removal

Getting your lipoma(s) professionally removed can have many benefits, including:

  • No more bothersome bumps under the skin
  • Relief from discomfort
  • Cosmetic improvement
  • Improved confidence
  • Low risk of recurrence in the treated area

Candidates

If you feel a lump under your skin, you should seek professional advice for a diagnosis. A lipoma is typically soft and painless with a well-defined border and slight mobility when pushed. If your lipoma is not causing you any discomfort or cosmetic concerns, you might not need to get it removed.

If you do choose to proceed with lipoma removal, you should:

  • Be in good general health
  • Have realistic expectations for the procedure
  • Not have any active infections in the targeted area

Lipoma vs Cyst vs Tumor

Without a professional diagnosis, lipomas may be mistaken for cysts and tumors. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that tend to feel a little firmer. Treatment options for cysts are typically surgical removal or simple drainage. Tumors, on the other hand, are a type of abnormal tissue growth that can be either benign (harmless) or malignant (potentially dangerous). They tend to be less movable and firmer, and grow more rapidly.

To determine what type of lump you have, your specialist may use a combination of physical examination, imaging, and biopsy.

Lipoma Removal with a Plastic Surgeon

At Dermatology, Laser & Surgery of Carnegie Hill and Dermatology, Laser & Surgery of Flatiron, we can refer you to our excellent plastic surgeon, Dr. Elie Levine, for your lipoma removal. It is highly recommended to receive care from an experienced plastic surgeon with a proven track record of successful lipoma removal. Although the procedure may seem straightforward, the location and size of lipomas make precise surgical techniques extremely important. If the lipoma is located near a nerve, for example, the surgeon must have advanced and nuanced knowledge of anatomy to ensure the patient’s safety.

Choosing a plastic surgeon with both functional and cosmetic experience can also ensure that the treated area looks amazing after surgery. Dr. Elie Levine uses meticulous incision and closure techniques and makes the smallest incisions possible so that you are left with a barely-visible scar you can feel confident about!

Cost of Lipoma Removal in NYC

The cost of your lipoma removal will depend on the methods used, the number of lipomas you are getting removed, their location, their size, and more. In order to provide you with an accurate cost estimate, we recommend that you reach out to the office of your choosing to schedule a consultation.

Insurance Coverage for Lipoma Removal

If your lipoma is causing you physical pain or discomfort, there is a good chance that insurance may cover the cost of your procedure either partially or fully. Coverage details depend on your specific policy. Our team would be happy to help you through this process if you would like to learn more about your options!

Request a consultation online or give us a call to learn more about the costs associated with lipoma removal:

FAQ

What is a lipoma?

A lipoma is a growth made up of fat cells under the skin. They typically feel soft and squishy, and movable if you push on them. Lipomas are typically harmless, but they can cause discomfort if they are located near a joint or nerve.

Are lipomas cancerous?

Lipomas are almost always benign. There is a rare type of cancer called liposarcoma, which involves fatty growths. Your specialist can take a biopsy of your growth to provide more insights about your health.

How common are lipomas?

Very common! It is estimated that about 1 person out of every 1,000 people has experienced lipoma growth. They do not always need to be removed, so many patients live with their lipomas without any difficulty.

Where do lipomas usually occur?

Lipomas typically occur in the arms, shoulders, back, thighs, and other areas. Their location can determine if patients need to get them removed; if they are near a nerve, like those in the arms, they can be more uncomfortable.

Is lipoma removal medically necessary or cosmetic?

Lipoma removal is typically cosmetic, but there are some cases in which it is considered medically necessary. In these cases, the removal may be covered partially or fully by insurance, depending on the patient’s policy.

How can I tell if a lump is a lipoma?

You will need to seek out professional advice for an official diagnosis of a lipoma. However, if you have a lump that feels soft, squishy, and slightly movable, it may be a lipoma. Lipomas are typically slow-growing.

Can lipomas be removed without surgery?

There are certain methods, such as steroid injections or laser therapy, which have been used to reduce the size of lipomas. However, these methods cannot fully remove the lipoma, making regrowth more likely. Liposuction has also been used to remove lipomas, but this method is also less predictable for removing the entire growth.

References

  1. Kolb L, Yarrarapu SNS, Ameer MA, Rosario-Collazo JA. Lipoma. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507906/
  2. Sakamoto A, Matsuda S. Minimally Invasive Resection of a Large Subcutaneous Lipoma. JBJS Essential Surgical Techniques. 2024;14(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.2106/jbjs.st.23.00012
  3. Charifa A, Azmat CE, Badri T. Lipomas, Pathology. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482343/
  4. Piccolo D, Mohammed Hussein Mutlag, Pieri L, et al. Lipoma management with a minimally invasive 1,444 nm Nd:YAG laser technique. 2022;9. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.1011468