What is Lipoma Removal

Lipoma removal is a surgical procedure to remove a noncancerous (benign) tumor that is made up of fat cells (lipoma). Most lipomas are small and painless and do not require treatment. They can form in many areas of the body but are most common under the skin of the back, shoulders, arms, and thighs.

You may need lipoma removal if you have a lipoma that is large, growing, or causing discomfort. Lipoma removal may also be done for cosmetic reasons.

Tell a health care provider about:

• Any allergies you have.
• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
• Any blood disorders you have.
• Any surgeries you have had.
• Any medical conditions you have.
• Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.

What are the risks?

Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:

• Infection.
• Bleeding.
• Allergic reactions to medicines.
• Damage to nerves or blood vessels near the lipoma.
• Scarring.

What happens before the procedure?

Staying hydrated

Follow instructions from your health care provider about hydration, which may include:

• Up to 2 hours before the procedure – you may continue to drink clear liquids, such as water, clear fruit juice, black coffee, and plain tea.

Eating and drinking restrictions

Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating and drinking, which may include:

• 8 hours before the procedure – stop eating heavy meals or foods such as meat, fried foods, or fatty foods.
• 6 hours before the procedure – stop eating light meals or foods, such as toast or cereal.
• 6 hours before the procedure – stop drinking milk or drinks that contain milk.
• 2 hours before the procedure – stop drinking clear liquids.

Medicines

• Ask your health care provider about:
  • Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
  • Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
• You may be given antibiotic medicine to help prevent infection.

General instructions

• Ask your health care provider how your surgical site will be marked or identified.
• You will have a physical exam. Your health care provider will check the size of the lipoma and whether it can be moved easily.
• You may have imaging tests, such as:
  • X-rays.
  • CT scan.
  • MRI.
• Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital or clinic.

What happens during the procedure?

• To reduce your risk of infection:
  • Your health care team will wash or sanitize their hands.
  • Your skin will be washed with soap.
• You will be given one or more of the following:
  • A medicine to help you relax (sedative).
  • A medicine to numb the area (local anesthetic).
  • A medicine to make you fall asleep (general anesthetic).
  • A medicine that is injected into an area of your body to numb everything below the injection site (regional anesthetic).
• An incision will be made over the lipoma or very near the lipoma. The incision may be made in a natural skin line or crease.
• Tissues, nerves, and blood vessels near the lipoma will be moved out of the way.
• The lipoma and the capsule that surrounds it will be separated from the surrounding tissues.
• The lipoma will be removed.
• The incision may be closed with stitches (sutures).
• A bandage (dressing) will be placed over the incision.

What happens after the procedure?

• Do not drive for 24 hours if you received a sedative.
• Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored until the medicines you were given have worn off.

Lipoma Removal, Care After

Refer to this sheet in the next few weeks. These instructions provide you with information about caring for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. Your treatment has been planned according to current medical practices, but problems sometimes occur. Call your health care provider if you have any problems or questions after your procedure.

What can I expect after the procedure?

After the procedure, it is common to have:

• Mild pain.
• Swelling.
• Bruising.

Follow these instructions at home:

Bathing

• Do not take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves. Ask your health care provider if you can take showers. You may only be allowed to take sponge baths for bathing.
• Keep your bandage (dressing) dry until your health care provider says it can be removed.

Incision care

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your incision. Make sure you:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
  • Leave stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.
• Check your incision area every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain.
  • Fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.

Driving

• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
• Do not drive for 24 hours if you received a medicine to help you relax (sedative) during your procedure.
• Ask your health care provider when it is safe for you to drive.

General instructions

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Do not use any tobacco products, such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes. These can delay healing. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have more redness, swelling, or pain around your incision.
• You have fluid or blood coming from your incision.
• Your incision feels warm to the touch.
• You have pus or a bad smell coming from your incision.
• You have pain that does not get better with medicine.

Get help right away if:

• You have chills or a fever.
• You have severe pain.