About 1 in 1,000 people has a lipoma, or a lump of fatty tissue that grows just beneath the surface of their skin. Anyone can get a lipoma, and they can appear at any time. Fortunately, they’re almost always noncancerous and completely harmless.
If you’ve noticed a small, soft lump under your skin, it could be a lipoma. And if you’re bothered by it, Balaguru Sambandam, MD, FACS, and our team at North Tarrant Health Providers can help. We offer lipoma treatment and removal, and we’re ready to answer your questions.
All lipomas are lumps of fatty tissue. They’re usually round or oval, and less than two inches in diameter. Lipomas are classified into different types based on the exact nature of their tissue makeup:
Conventional lipomas are the most common type. They consist of only mature white fat cells, or white adipose tissue. White fat stores extra calories from the food and drinks you consume.
Hibernomas contain brown fat instead of white fat. Brown fat stores extra calories too, but it also helps regulate your body temperature and keep you warm in the cold.
Fibrolipomas have fatty tissue mixes with fibrous tissue. If you have a fibrolipoma with a lot of fibrous tissue, it may feel harder than a fattier conventional lipoma or hibernoma.
Angiolipomas contain fat and a significant amount of blood vessels. The presence of excess blood vessels often makes angiolipomas painful or tender to the touch.
Myelolipomas have a mixture of fatty tissue and tissue that makes blood cells and resembles bone marrow. Myelolipoma is one of the rarest types of lipoma.
Other types of lipomas are characterized by the shape of the fat cells inside them. Spindle cell lipomas have fat cells that are long and narrow, and pleomorphic lipomas have fat cells of all different shapes and sizes.
It’s not easy to determine what type of lipoma you have on your own. Dr. Sambandam can fully assess your lipoma with a physical exam and diagnostic imaging.
Most lipomas are harmless and they usually don't need special care. However, some lipomas can be large, bothersome, unsightly, or painful — and treatment can help you live more comfortably.
If you have a lipoma that hurts or gets in the way of your daily activities, talk to Dr. Sambandam and our team at North Tarrant Health Providers. We specialize in removing lipomas, and we can help you decide if treatment is right for you.
Dr. Sambandam may recommend surgical lipoma removal or liposuction. Surgery cuts away the growth, while liposuction involves removing the fatty tissue with a small needle.
No matter which method we use, lipomas usually don’t come back once they’ve been removed. However, you might get a new lipoma in a different place. Certain health conditions, like Gardner syndrome and hereditary multiple lipomatosis, can increase your risk of getting lipomas.
You don’t have to live with an unsightly or uncomfortable lipoma. Book a consultation with Dr. Sambandam to get a diagnosis and find a way to resolve the condition. Call our Fort Worth, Texas, office at 817-904-4165 today, or contact us online any time.
