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Lipoma
At the Mole Institute, we understand that discovering an unusual lump under your skin can be concerning. One common type of lump is a lipoma – a benign (non-cancerous) growth of fatty tissue that forms just beneath the skin.
For patients coming from areas such as Ancaster, Oakville and Mississauga, our process is straightforward and does not require a doctor’s referral. At the Mole Institute in Hamilton, our team of physicians prioritize minimal incisions when performing lipoma removal to ensure the smallest possible scars.
What is a lipoma?
A lipoma is essentially a lump of fatty tissue under the skin. These growths are benign soft-tissue tumors, meaning they are not cancerous and tend to grow slowly. Lipomas are usually small (often under 5 cm, though some can grow larger) and are encapsulated, which means they don’t spread into surrounding tissues. They often present as round or oval bumps that you can easily move with gentle pressure. Most lipomas don’t cause any symptoms; however, if a lipoma presses on nearby nerves or joints, it might cause discomfort or limit movement.
What Causes Lipomas?
The exact cause of lipomas is not fully understood. Many lipomas arise without a clear trigger. However, medical experts believe there is often a genetic component. In some cases, injury or trauma to an area of the body has been noted before a lipoma develops there. While it’s not proven that trauma causes lipomas, there are reports suggesting a significant impact might trigger a fat lump to grow in some individuals.
Your best C.A.R.E. is our priority
To meet with our team of physicians at the Mole Institute, follow our 4 step C.A.R.E. process. Book a consultation online or by calling (905) 906-SKIN (7546).
No referral is needed.
Connect
Call our office or book a free consultation online
Assess
Your condition will be assessed by a trained physician
Remove
Procedures can be done on the same day as your consultation
Enjoy
Enjoy your results with minimal downtime
Do lipomas need treatment?
In many cases, lipomas cause no symptoms. Patients often come in for lipoma removal for aesthetic reasons as these lesions can grow large and become more and more noticeable. With increased size, lipomas can become tender or painful as the overlying skin stretches or pressure is put on a nearby nerve. This is often the case when a lipoma develops in an area such as the back where pressure can be applied to it externally, such as when lying down.
What happens during lipoma removal?
At the Mole Institute, our trained pysicians remove lipomas by direct surgical excision using local anesthetic. Direct surgical excision involves making an incision over the lipoma, extracting the lipoma surgically, and then stitching the skin closed. The incision is generally about 1/2 to 2/3 the size of the lipoma itself. Lipomas that are firmly attached to surrounding tissues are more difficult to remove and may require a larger incision. Although incisions always leave a scar, at the Mole Institute we make it a top priority to keep the incision size as small as possible.
Is it worth getting a lipoma removed?
Yes, especially if the lipoma causes pain or discomfort, is cosmetically displeasing, or interferes with normal function.
Will a lipoma come back after it’s removed?
While a lipoma returning after removal is rare, it is possible. We recommend you monitor the area and consult with your doctor if you notice any changes.
Is the procedure painful?
Lipoma removal is typically well tolerated by patients, especially when a local anesthetic is used to numb the area beforehand.