How are lipomas treated?
Lipomas do not generally require treatment. Because lipomas are not cancerous growths and cannot become cancerous, they do not need to be removed. There is no known treatment to prevent lipomas or affect their growth. A lipoma may be surgically removed if symptoms develop, such as if the lipoma: Becomes painful or tender. Becomes infected or inflamed repeatedly. Drains foul-smelling discharge. Interferes with movement or function. Increases in size. Becomes unsightly or bothersome. Most lipomas can be removed in the doctor’s office or outpatient surgery center. The doctor injects a local anesthetic around the lipoma, makes an incision in the skin, removes the growth, and closes the incision with stitches (sutures). If the lipoma is in an area of the body that cannot be easily reached through a simple incision in the skin, the lipoma may need to be removed in the operating room under general anesthesia.
