Lipoma: medication, symptoms, risk factors, treatment etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is a lipoma?

Lipomas are lumps filled with a layer of fat that gradually builds up under the skin. This lump is between the skin and the muscle layer. Lipomas are common on the neck, back, shoulders, arms and thighs.

These lumps can also develop in other parts of the body such as the intestines. This lump is also a benign tumor and is more common in adults.

How common is this condition?

This lump can generally occur in men and women of all ages. Even so, this disease is more common in women with middle age. The circumstances may vary from person to person.

Always discuss with your doctor what diagnostic and therapeutic tests are right for you.

A lipoma is a type of lump (tumor) that can grow anywhere on the body, but most commonly occurs under the skin of the following areas:

• Upper back
• Shoulder
• Weapons
• Armpit
• Buttocks
• Upper thigh

These fat-filled lumps can also grow and develop on your muscles, organs, or deep inside your thighs, shoulders, or calves.

Types of lipoma lumps

Lipoma has several types when viewed from the cause and contents of the lump, as follows:

• Conventional lipoma: lumps are fairly common and contain white fat
• Hibernoma: a lump that contains brown fat instead of plain white fat
• Fibrolipoma: lumps containing fibrous fatty tissue
• Angiolipoma: a lump that contains fat and a large number of blood vessels
• Myelolipoma: a lump that contains fat plus tissue that makes blood cells
• Spindle cell lipoma: a fat-filled lump with cells that look like rods
• Pleomorphic lipoma: The lump contains a layer of fat with cells of various shapes and sizes
• Atypical lipoma: a fat-filled lump with a deeper size and a larger number of cells

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of a lipoma?

These fatty lumps initially appear as subcutaneous (subcutaneous tissue) lumps that are soft, round, and painless. Patients often don't even realize that they actually have a lipoma on their body.

Most of these bumps generally have a soft or mushy texture. However, it can also be hard and dense textured. Generally, the bumps containing this layer of fat when touched can slide or move to the surrounding area easily.

More than one lump containing this fat layer can appear. Usually, if it is the origin of a tumor, the lump can be painful if it hits the nerve. You may also feel pain if the lump is made up of many blood vessels.

Lipomas vary in size, but rarely exceed 8 cm. In addition, these lumps are more commonly found on the forearms, legs, back and neck.

This lump condition can also occur in other parts of the body, such as lumps in the breasts, lungs, and large intestine with different symptoms depending on the location of the lipoma.

There may be symptoms not listed above. That is why, if you have any concerns, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

A lipoma that appears on your body is rarely risky or dangerous. However, if there is a lump or swelling in any part of your body, immediately consult a doctor to find out the exact cause. That way, you can eliminate the possibility of disease.

Please contact your doctor if you have pain around any area of ​​the body where there is a lump. If you feel the lump has increased in size (for example, 2 times) within 12 months, you should contact your doctor immediately. It could be a sign of a serious health problem.

If you have any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult your doctor.

Cause

What causes lipoma?

It is still unknown what causes these fat-filled bumps to appear on the body. It is suspected that genetic factors play a role in causing lipoma.

Generally, lipomas are conditions that can occur in several people in the same family. Medical experts don't know what causes this condition, but some think it is a response to physical trauma.

There are some allegations that the lumps filled with a layer of fat can arise as a result of physical trauma first. There are also allegations that this condition can occur in people who are less active, but many of these allegations have not been proven.

There are several genetic conditions that can cause a person to have one or more lipomas, including:

• Gardner's syndrome disease, which is a condition that causes benign tumors to form.
• Adiposis dolorosa, a condition characterized by the appearance of soft, fat-filled lumps
• Familial multiple lipomatosis, a hereditary condition that causes multiple bumps filled with a layer of fat to form.
• Madelung disease, a rare condition characterized by a lump filled with a layer of fat that forms around the upper body.
• Cowden's syndrome, which is characterized by a benign tumor, excess skin, and large lumps.

Risk factors

What puts you at risk for lipoma?

There are many risk factors for this condition, namely:

• Age: People aged 40 to 60 years are more at risk of developing these lumps than people with people under 40 years of age.
• Have other diseases such as Cowden syndrome and Gardner syndrome.
• Family history of lipoma.

Medicines & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the lipoma treatment options?

Lipomas are harmless tumors and often don't need treatment. However, if the tumor continues to grow, your doctor will order surgery to remove the lump that contains this layer of fat.

This condition is arguably harmless. Even so, the doctor will first determine what the lump really is.

Lumps can be cysts, which are lumps filled with fluid, abscesses filled with pus, or lumps that can start with cancer in the fatty tissue.

Fat tissue cancer is fast growing and is not easy to slide under the skin and can cause pain.

Lipoma is a condition that can be removed using liposuction surgery aka liposuction , but most of the time these surgical procedures are unable to completely remove the fatty lump or tumor. Usually the condition of this lump does not appear and does not recur after surgery.

The lumps containing this fat layer if left unchecked will not cause problems. However, if this interferes with your self-confidence or even your activities, the appointment will be the solution the doctor will give.

The dermatologist will then make recommendations for the best treatment based on a variety of factors including:

• See how big the lipoma is. If it is too big and annoying, the doctor will remove it.
• Look at the number of skin tumors you have.
• Look at your and your family's personal history of skin cancer.
• Does the lump hurt or not.

After considering the above, the doctor can perform the following actions according to the condition of the lump in your body.

Some treatments that can be done to treat lipomas include:

1. Operation

The most common way to treat lipomas is to surgically remove them. This surgery is very helpful, especially if you have a large skin tumor that is still growing.

Generally, rarely, a tumor or lump containing this fat layer grows back after it is surgically removed.

2. Liposuction

Another treatment option is liposuction, aka liposuction . Basically, these lumps are formed from fat. That is why, this procedure can work well to reduce its size.

Liposuction is performed using a needle attached to a large syringe, and before the fat is removed, you will usually be injected with a local anesthetic first.

This liposuction procedure usually begins with an incision in the area of ​​the lump. The doctor will then use a thin, hollow tube, called a cannula, to be inserted into the incision.

The cannula is then moved back and forth to relax the fat, which is sucked through the tube.

Procedure liposuction useful for larger lipoma conditions, but this procedure is often associated with a higher recurrence rate. This means that there is a chance that the lump will reappear.

The procedure for removing lipomas is usually done within a day and does not require intensive care, and patients go home the same day after the procedure.

3. Steroid injections

Steroid injections can also be used right on the area of ​​the lump on your body. This treatment can reduce the size of the lipoma, but it will not completely remove or remove it from your body.

A lipoma is a benign tumor which means that it is quite likely that this lump will not spread. This condition will not spread through the muscles or other surrounding tissue, and is not life threatening.

Please note, the lump tumor contains a layer of this fat can not disappear or shrink on its own.

Using an ice pack or even a hot compress, cannot reduce this type of lump on the skin which contains fat. This is because the lumps are basically fat and require special treatment from a doctor if you want to get rid of them.

What are the tests for this condition?

To diagnose this condition, the doctor will perform a physical examination. Your doctor may ask you to undergo imaging tests such as ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan. The doctor may then perform a biopsy to obtain a small amount of tissue for analysis.

Lipomas are harmless tumors and often don't need treatment. However, if the tumor continues to grow, your doctor will order surgery to remove this lump or tumor. Your doctor may recommend that you do a biopsy as a follow-up examination.

Biopsy

Examination through a biopsy is sometimes needed to confirm the diagnosis whether the lump is a lipoma or not. In a biopsy, a sample of tumor tissue is taken and examined under a microscope.

Your doctor may give you a local anesthetic to numb the area and take a sample using a needle. A biopsy can also be done as a minor surgery.

In most cases of lipoma, a biopsy is not required to confirm the diagnosis of a lipoma or not. However, a biopsy is usually performed on a tissue sample.

When a sample of the lump tissue has been taken, the sample will be observed under a microscope.

Lipomas often have a classic appearance with abundant mature fat cells. Sometimes there can be a small number of other cell types, too, such as cartilage or bone.

After a biopsy, the doctor will decide what action is appropriate to remove this lump.

A lipoma is harmless, but your doctor will make sure that the lump is not a cyst, abscess, or cancer of the fatty tissue. Fat tissue cancer is fast growing and is not easy to slide under the skin and can cause pain.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies for lipomas?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with these fat-filled bumps.

• Check your body for lumps frequently. Lipoma is not dangerous, but some lumps or other tumors can be serious and must be treated immediately.
• Call your doctor if you notice redness or swelling or a warm feeling in the bumps.
• Schedule regular follow-ups or consultations to monitor the progress of your symptoms.

Make sure you follow the doctor's recommendations. Do not take medication carelessly or take action on your own. Do not be too late to take the medicine prescribed by the doctor.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.