Lipoma
A lipoma is a fatty mass that develops slowly and originates between the muscle layer beneath your skin. With minimal finger pressure, a lipoma slides easily, which has a doughy texture and is often not soft.
A lipoma is primarily harmless and is not cancer. Although most lipomas don’t require treatment, you may have them removed if the lipoma bothers you, is painful, or is expanding.
Check to see whether you have a lipoma.
Most people have lipomas.
They:
- Felt soft and squishy
- Vary in size between a pea to a few centimeters across
- If you apply pressure, they might move slightly under your skin
- Typically not painful
- Slowly expand
When to consult a doctor
See a doctor if:
- A bump appears anywhere on your body
- The lump hurts, is flaming, or scorching
- The bulge is solid and immobile
Usually, a doctor can determine whether a lump is a lipoma.
If they have any doubts, they suggest you get a scan to confirm it. Lumps under your skin may, in rare instances, signify a more severe condition.
Surgically removing a lipoma
Lipomas are not dangerous. You can pay at a private facility to remove a lipoma, but the cost might be high.
Your doctor can advise you on the best place to receive care.
Causes and risk factors
The exact cause of lipomas is unknown. Because they frequently run in families, genetics probably influences how they develop.
Your likelihood of getting a lipoma could be affected by some things, such as:
- Lipomas can develop at any age; however, this age bracket of 40 to 60 is where they tend to occur most frequently.
- Lipomas often happen in families.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 04 October 2022