Lipomas Specialist
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North Tarrant Health Providers
Balaguru Sambandam, MD, FACS
General Surgery located in Fort Worth, TX
Lipomas are lumps of fatty, rubbery tissue that grow just beneath your skin. Lipomas are rarely dangerous or painful, but if yours is bothering you, Balaguru Sambandam, MD, FACS, can remove it. At his practice, North Tarrant Health Providers in Fort Worth, Texas, Dr. Sambandam performs in-office lipoma removal with minimal fuss and discomfort for small lipomas. Larger or deeper lipomas or lipomas in high-risk areas like the head and neck are best done in the operating room. Call the office today and schedule a consultation to discuss lipoma removal or book an appointment online.
Lipomas Q & A
What are lipomas?
Lipomas are lumps of fatty tissue under your skin that move when you touch them. Lipomas aren't cancerous, but as the symptoms of a type of cancer called liposarcoma are similar to benign lipomas, it's important to make sure by visiting North Tarrant Health Providers.
Lipomas have certain characteristics. They don't spread into the surrounding tissues, and they're round or oval-shaped and usually symmetrical. Lipomas sit just below the surface of your skin and are generally below two inches across, although some may grow quite large.
Lipomas affect about 1 in every 1,000 people. They tend to affect people aged 40 to 60, although they can appear at any age.
Are there different types of lipomas?
The most common type of lipoma is the conventional lipoma, which contains white fat cells. Other kinds of lipomas include:
- Fibrolipoma
- Hibernoma
- Myelolipoma
- Spindle cell
- Pleomorphic
Angiolipomas contain fat and blood vessels, and are one of the few types of lipomas that might be painful; however, they're quite rare.
What symptoms do lipomas cause?
Although lipomas typically aren't painful, they can cause some discomfort if they're near a nerve or joint. Other than that, they rarely cause any problems.
Lipomas can come up anywhere, but the areas most likely to develop them are the back, torso, neck, arms, and shoulders.
What causes lipomas?
It's not clear why some people develop lipomas, but you're more likely to get one if other family members have them.
There are a few conditions that cause multiple lipomas to form, including:
- Dercum's disease (adiposis dolorosa or Anders' syndrome)
- Gardner syndrome
- Hereditary multiple lipomatosis
- Madelung's disease (multiple symmetric lipomatosis)
Dr. Sambandam can assess your lipoma by examining it. You might also need to undergo an ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan, or have a biopsy to confirm the lipoma isn't a cyst or cancer.
How do I treat my lipoma?
Most lipomas don't require any treatment, as they're harmless and painless. However, if your lipoma is uncomfortable or unsightly, Dr. Sambandam can remove it during a simple outpatient surgery.
Lipomas rarely come back after removal, although you could get a new one in a different place.
If you have a troublesome or uncomfortable lipoma, call North Tarrant Health Providers and schedule a consultation with Dr. Sambandam, or book an appointment online today.
