Lipoma

A lipoma is a benign tumor composed of fatty tissue. The most common kind (known as "superficial subcutaneous") is located just below the surface of the skin, although lipomas are found anywhere in the body that fat is located. The tendency to develop lipomas is generally hereditary, although some doctors believe that minor injury may trigger their growth.

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Lipomas are soft to the touch, sometimes moveable, and are generally painless. They grow very slowly, and have not been found to become cancerous. Often, treatment of a lipoma is not necessary, unless the tumor becomes painful or restricts movement. Many people have them removed for cosmetic reasons. However, if the capsule of the lipoma is not completely removed during the surgery, it may grow back.

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A lipoma may be removed by simple excision, but liposuction is another option that often results in less scarring.

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Benign tumor: A benign tumor is a tumor that lacks all three of the malignant properties of a cancer. Thus, by definition, a benign tumor does not grow in an unlimited, aggressive manner, does not invade surrounding tissues, and does not metastasize. Common examples of benign tumors include moles and uterine fib...

Fatty tissue: REDIRECT Adipose tissue...

Liposuction: Liposuction is a popular operation in plastic surgery which removes fat from certain places of the human body (typically abdomen, thighs, buttocks) by liquefying it and removing it through a hollow needle. In some cases, more extreme measures, such as abdominoplasty, may be needed....