Lipoma

This slow-growing, fatty lump most often is just below the skin. It isn't cancer and is typically harmless.

Update Date: 16.05.2025

Overview
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Causes
Risk factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Preparing for your appointment
Overview
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Causes
Risk factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Preparing for your appointment

Overview

A lipoma is a slow-growing, fatty lump that most often is located between the skin and muscle layer but below the skin. It feels soft and rubbery and often isn't tender. It also moves with slight finger pressure as if not connected to the skin above. Lipomas often are detected in middle age. Some people have more than one lipoma.

A lipoma isn't cancer, and it typically is harmless. Treatment generally isn't needed, but if the lipoma bothers you, or if it's painful or growing, you may want to have it removed.

Lipoma

A lipoma is a fatty tumor that lies just below the skin. It isn't cancer, and it's typically harmless.

Symptoms

Lipomas can occur anywhere in the body. They are:

  • Just under the skin. They commonly occur in the areas of the neck, shoulders, back, abdomen, arms and thighs.
  • Soft and doughy to the touch. They also move easily with slight finger pressure.
  • Generally small. Lipomas are typically less than 1 to 2 inches (3 to 5 centimeters) in diameter, but they can grow.
  • Sometimes painful. Lipomas can be painful if they grow and press on nearby nerves or if they contain many blood vessels.

When to see a doctor

A lipoma is rarely a serious medical condition. But if you notice a lump or swelling anywhere on your body, have your healthcare professional check it.

Causes

The cause of lipomas isn't fully understood. They tend to run in families, so genetic factors likely play a role in their development.

Risk factors

Several factors may raise your risk of getting a lipoma, including:

  • Being between 40 and 60 years old. Although lipomas can occur at any age, they're most common in this age group.
  • Genetics. Lipomas tend to run in families.

Diagnosis

To diagnose a lipoma, your healthcare professional may:

  • Examine it.
  • Remove a tissue sample (biopsy) for lab examination.
  • Order an X-ray, or an ultrasound, MRI or CT scan, if the lipoma is large, has unusual features or appears to be deeper than the fatty tissue.

There's a very small chance that a lump looking like a lipoma may be a cancer called liposarcoma. Liposarcomas are cancerous tumors in fatty tissues. They grow rapidly, don't move under the skin and often are painful. A biopsy, or an MRI or CT scan, is typically done if your healthcare professional suspects liposarcoma.

Treatment

A lipoma typically doesn't need to be treated. But if the lipoma bothers you, or it's painful or growing, your healthcare professional might recommend removing it.

Lipoma treatments include:

  • Surgical removal. Most lipomas are removed surgically by cutting them out. Lipomas typically don't return once they're removed. Possible side effects are scarring and bruising. A technique known as minimal excision extraction may result in less scarring.
  • Liposuction. This treatment uses a needle and a large syringe to remove the fatty lump.

Preparing for your appointment

You're likely to start by seeing your primary healthcare professional. You may need to see a healthcare professional who specializes in skin disorders, known as a dermatologist.

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

  • List your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to why you scheduled the appointment.
  • Make a list of medicines, vitamins and supplements you take.
  • List questions to ask your healthcare professional.

Preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your healthcare professional. For a lipoma, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What caused this growth?
  • Is it cancer?
  • Do I need tests?
  • Will this lump always be there?
  • Can I have it removed?
  • What's involved in removing it? Are there risks?
  • Is it likely to return, or am I likely to get another?
  • Do you have any brochures or other resources I can have? What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions that occur to you.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare professional is likely to ask you questions too, including:

  • When did you notice the lump?
  • Has it grown?
  • Have you had similar growths in the past?
  • Is the lump painful?
  • Have others in your family had similar lumps?

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