Lipoma – a Fatty Benign Tumour
What is a Lipoma?
A lipoma is a lump or ‘tumour’ under the skin and it can look quite worrying, but is actually benign (i.e medically harmless).
Lipomas can grow quite large – from around 1cm up to 5cm or more – but tend to grow fairly slowly.
They are usually quite soft to the touch as a lipoma is made of fatty tissue and you may be able to push it around slightly, as it is just under the skin.
Lipomas commonly appear on the shoulders, abdomen, back, legs and arms. They can also appear on the face as shown.
NHS Advice on Lipomas
The NHS say:
“Lipomas are harmless. They are not usually treated on the NHS.”
Patients who want lipoma removal tend to be treated in private clinics, such as Cosmedics’ Skin Surgery Laser Clinics based in London and Bristol.
The NHS also do suggest that patients see a doctor if there are any concerns that the lump may not be harmless:
“See a GP if:
- you get a lump anywhere on your body
- your lump is painful, red or hot
- your lump is hard and doesn’t move
“Your GP will usually be able to tell if the lump is a lipoma. If there is any doubt, they may refer you for a scan to check it out.
“In rare cases lumps under your skin can be a sign of something more serious.”
Lipoma Removal Clinics
Lipoma removal treatment laser or surgical techniques is available at Skin Surgery Laser Clinic, who have a selection of locations conveniently based in London and Bristol. All procedures are carried out by highly trained and experienced doctors and surgeons.
Doctors are highly trained and will carry out a full diagnosis first, in order to rule out any other conditions.
For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.
