Medical dermatology
Lipomas
Lipomas are soft, slow-growing fatty growths beneath the skin. They're benign, but if one is enlarging, painful, or in the way, in-office removal is straightforward.
What it is.
Lipomas are typically soft, mobile, and painless. They commonly appear on the trunk, shoulders, neck, and arms, and multiple lipomas can run in families.
How we treat it.
Stable, asymptomatic lipomas can be left alone. When excision is appropriate, lipomas are removed under local anesthesia through a small incision, with the entire fatty mass taken out so it doesn't recur.
When to come in.
Have any new, growing, painful, or rapidly changing lump evaluated. Most are benign, but a clinical exam (and occasionally a biopsy) is the best way to be sure.
Related conditions.
Next step
Ready to schedule your visit?
Send a quick message and our team will reach out to schedule. Most patients can be seen within the same week.