GL Surgical Logo Horizontal Transparent
Make Appointment

Back

  • Home
  • Conditions
  • Lumps & Bumps
  • Skin Lipoma

Skin Lipoma

DrGanesh DP 2
Dr Ganesh Ramalingam

Specialist in General Surgery

Condition

Lipoma in a Nutshell

  • A lipoma is a growth of fatty tissue that develops under your skin, they are benign masses that usually do not pose any health risks.
  • Lipomas can develop on any part of the body.
  • If a lipoma compresses nerves underneath the skin, it can cause the individual pain. 
  • Liposarcomas, a cancerous condition, may also be mistaken for lipomas.
  • Most lipoma treatments in Singapore would require the mass to be excised and removed. In most cases, they will also be sent for testing to make sure there are no potential threats to the body. 
  • Lipoma treatments in Singapore are considered to be minimally invasive, and most patients experience a fast recovery post-surgery and have minimal downtime.

Table of Contents

Skin Lipoma

What Is A Skin Lipoma?

Lipomas are usually small, benign masses that do not need to be removed.

Essentially, a lipoma is a growth of fatty tissue that develops under your skin. The development of a lipoma is usually gradual and slow. One can develop a lipoma at any age. However, it is rarer in children. Lipomas can develop on any part of the body. However, they are typically found on the:

They are classified as benign growths (tumours) made of fatty tissue, meaning that a lipoma is not cancerous and is rarely harmful. Therefore, lipoma treatment in Singapore is usually not necessary unless it is bothering you.

As with the case of an individual who found three lipomas on his body, his doctors advised that he only remove the largest as it was beginning to cause him pain.

What Causes A Lipoma?

The exact cause of a lipoma is still unknown. However, physical trauma has been suggested as a possible factor, although it is not clear whether trauma causes the lipoma or simply leads to its discovery.

  • Unknown cause: The exact reason why lipomas develop remains unclear.
  • Possible link to trauma: Lipomas are thought to be potentially linked to physical trauma.
  • Trauma and discovery: It is uncertain whether trauma actually causes a lipoma or whether the growth is simply noticed after an injury brings attention to that area.

Schedule an Appointment

Concerned about your symptoms or condition? Book a consultation to get clarity and tailored care.

Get Started

What Are The Symptoms Of A Lipoma?

While there are various types of skin tumours, doctors are usually able to diagnose lipomas based on their distinct characteristics.

Lipoma Symptoms

  • Soft to the touch
  • Easily moved when prodded
  • Just below the skin
  • Colourless
  • Slow growing

Typically, lipomas are located in the neck, upper arms, thighs, and forearms, but they can also occur on the stomach or back.

If a lipoma compresses nerves underneath the skin, it can cause the individual pain. However, there is a variant condition known as angiolipoma that is also more often painful than regular lipomas.

Inform our doctor at G&L Surgical Clinic immediately if you notice any changes in your skin and lipoma, as lipomas can look very similar to a rare type of cancer called a liposarcoma.

What Is The Difference Between A Lipoma And A Liposarcoma?

Both lipoma and liposarcoma form in fatty tissue and both cause lumps. However, they are two extremely different conditions. A lipoma is noncancerous or benign, while a liposarcoma is cancerous and malignant.

If you are concerned about any lumps and bumps that may occur on your skin, you should always seek medical advice from our doctor.

Risk Factors For Developing A Lipoma

While the cause of lipomas are mainly unknown, there may be a genetic cause in individuals with multiple lipomas, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This means that your risk of developing lipomas increases if there is a family history of such issues.

Lipomas are most common in adults between the ages of 40 and 60.

However, certain conditions may also increase the risk of lipoma development.

  • Adiposis dolorosa (a rare disorder characterised by multiple, painful lipomas)
  • Madelung’s disease
  • Cowden syndrome
  • Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome
  • Gardner’s syndrome (rarely)

How Is A Lipoma Diagnosed?

Doctors can often diagnose a lipoma with a physical exam. They will be able to determine if it feels soft and whether or not it is causing you pain. Since lipomas are made up of fatty tissues, they move easily when poked or prodded.

In some cases, a biopsy of the lipoma may be required. During this procedure, our doctor will take a small portion of the tissue and send it to a lab for testing.

Biopsies are done to rule out the possibility of cancer. Although a lipoma is not cancerous, it rarely mimics a liposarcoma. Liposarcomas are malignant, or cancerous.

If your lipoma continues to grow and becomes painful, our doctor can remove it to relieve your discomfort while ruling out the possibility of liposarcoma. Additionally, further testing using MRI and CT scans may be required if a biopsy shows that a suspected lipoma could be a liposarcoma.

When Should I See A Doctor About A Lipoma?

A lipoma that is left alone typically does not cause any problems to the individual. However, you should seek medical advice if the lump:

  • Becomes painful
  • Starts growing quickly
  • Changes in appearance
  • Becomes larger
  • Feels different from your usual lipomas
  • Causes discomfort because of its location

A specialist’s assessment can help determine whether the lump is consistent with a lipoma and whether further investigation is necessary.

How Is Lipoma Treated?

A lipoma that is left alone typically does not cause any problems to the individual. However, Dr Ganesh Ramalingam can treat the lipoma if it bothers you. This decision will be made based on several factors:

  • The size of the lipoma
  • The number of skin tumours you have
  • Your personal history of skin cancer
  • Your family history of skin cancer
  • Whether the lipoma is painful

When deciding on whether to undergo lipoma treatment in Singapore, you should also consider if the growth is bothering you, whether physically (where you experience pain) or aesthetically. Most patients prefer to have the growth removed as it also reduces the risk of the growth mutating or increasing in size over time.

Can I Get Rid of A Skin Lipoma Naturally?

A lipoma is the result of fatty tissue and cannot be reduced through self-care measures.

Warm compresses may work for other types of skin lumps, but they prove ineffective in treating a lipoma because these formations contain fat cells that do not respond well to heat treatment.

Methods such as hot baths or warm compresses could potentially cause damage if applied incorrectly. You should never try to remove a lipoma by yourself; consider seeking professional medical advice when dealing with a lipoma removal.

What Is the Outlook For Someone With A Lipoma?

Lipomas are benign tumours, meaning that there is no chance that an existing lipoma will spread to other parts of the body. A lipoma cannot spread through muscles or other surrounding tissues, and is considered to be non life-threatening.

Lipomas cannot be removed on your own. While warm compresses may work for other types of skin lumps, they are ineffective against lipomas. This is because a lipoma is made up of a collection of fat cells.

Consider lipoma treatment in Singapore if the growth starts to bother you or if you experience pain near the location of the lipoma.

Why Choose Us For Your Lipoma Treatments In Singapore?

Dr Ganesh at G & L Surgical Clinic strives to prioritise his patients’ recovery and comfort. Having had experience in performing lipoma removal surgeries for numerous patients for many years in Singapore.

Furthermore, the staff at G & L Surgical Clinic have been thoroughly and consistently trained to make your experience a comfortable and hassle-free one. Whether you intend to undergo our lipoma treatments, procedures or other medical services in Singapore, you can rest assured that you will be properly and sufficiently cared for by trained professionals.

Organise a consultation with our surgeons for further assistance on lipoma treatments in Singapore.