Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
What is a Lipoma?
A lipoma is a benign tumor composed of mature adipocytes (fat cells) and is typically slow-growing. These tumors are usually soft, mobile, and painless. Lipomas can occur anywhere on the body where fat cells are present but are most commonly found on the torso, neck, upper thighs, forearms, and armpits. Although generally harmless, lipomas can sometimes grow large or develop in areas that cause discomfort or other symptoms.
Lipomas are subcutaneous soft tissue tumors that usually are slow-growing and are harmless. They have a soft, rubbery consistency. Lipomas tend to form on the trunk, shoulders, neck but can appear elsewhere on the body.
How to Identify a Lipoma?
Lipomas are generally easy to identify based on their clinical characteristics:
While most lipomas are asymptomatic, some patients may experience pain, particularly if the lipoma compresses nearby nerves or if it is situated in an area of frequent pressure or movement.
How to Diagnose a Lipoma?
The diagnosis of a lipoma is primarily clinical, based on the history and physical examination. However, in some cases, imaging studies such as ultrasound or MRI may be necessary to differentiate a lipoma from other soft tissue masses, particularly if the lipoma is unusually large, firm, or deeply situated. In rare cases, a biopsy may be required to confirm the diagnosis and rule out liposarcoma, a malignant tumor of fatty tissue.
What to Expect on the Day of Your Lipoma Excision at MACS Clinic?
Before your surgery begins, you will complete the consent process to ensure you fully understand the treatment, including its potential risks and benefits. Mr. Shailesh Vadodaria and his team will be available to answer any last-minute questions.
In compliance with National Government Law, all female patients of childbearing age will be required to take a pregnancy test on the day of the surgery as a standard precaution.
Mr. Vadodaria typically performs lipoma excision under local anaesthesia. This means you will be awake, but the area will be numbed, ensuring comfort during the procedure. For large lipomas, general anaesthesia may be used. After the procedure, you will receive prescriptions for painkillers and antibiotics to manage any discomfort and prevent infection.
A comprehensive post-operative care information leaflet will be provided to ensure a smooth recovery.
Management of Lipoma at MACS Clinic
You can reach out to our clinic using any of the following methods:
When contacting the clinic, please provide your name, preferred contact method, and mention the specific procedure you are interested in, such as lipoma excision.
After receiving your inquiry, a member of the MACS Clinic staff will reach out to schedule your consultation. You can opt for a free video consultation or an in-person visit at the clinic.
Before your consultation, you will receive a detailed information factsheet about the procedure. During your consultation, Mr. Vadodaria will explain the surgical process, potential risks, complications, and expected outcomes. He will also provide before-and-after photos to help you visualize the potential results.
The cost of lipoma excision varies based on size, number, location, and type of anaesthesia used:
A final cost estimate will be provided after consultation. MACS Clinic provides services for patients insured with WPA, CIGNA, Vitality, BUPA, AVIVA, and BUPA International. Consultation for non-insured patients is complimentary.
Mr. Vadodaria performs lipoma excision under local, sedation, or general anaesthesia as a day-case procedure. A precise incision is made over the lipoma to remove it along with its capsule, reducing the likelihood of recurrence. The procedure typically lasts 30–45 minutes.
Steps in Lipoma excision performed by Mr. Shailesh Vadodaria under general anaesthetics at MACS Clinic
Follow-up visits with Mr. Vadodaria are scheduled at 1 week and 6 weeks post-surgery.
The operation is performed under local anaesthetic and therefore painless. The area will remain numb for a few hours afterwards. However, once the local anaesthetic has worn off, the wound may feel tender and sore for a few days. Take your normal painkillers regularly to keep yourself comfortable.
General advice
■ Driving – You may not drive for 24 hours if you have had a general anaesthetic. There are no driving restrictions if you have had a local anaesthetic.
■ Activities – Avoid contact sports or any activities that may pull on your stitches.
If your wound is stitched and covered with a protective dressing; the stitches may require removal in 5, 7 or 10 days time. The staff will advise you if the stitches need to be removed at an outpatients appointment. Keep your wound clean and dry until your stitches have been removed, or advised by staff.
■ Bleeding – Your wound may bleed a little after the operation. If this occurs, place a clean cotton handkerchief or cloth over the area and apply constant pressure for approximately 10-15 minutes.
■ Infection – Your wound may become infected. If your wound becomes swollen, very red, very tender or starts producing a cloudy discharge, see your GP who may prescribe you antibiotics.
■ Scarring – Any surgery will result in a scar. In most cases, the scar will appear pink to start with and then eventually virtually disappear. However, sometimes the scar may remain visible. It may 3 look a different colour from the surrounding skin or be raised above the surface of the skin. Rarely, the scar may feel numb or even be painful.
Lipomas are completely harmless and frequently require no treatment at all. Surgery is considered if the lump is. In rare cases, lipomas form around nerves or blood vessels, and require removal to relieve symptoms of pain or discomfort. Lipomas do not disappear by themselves and frequently get bigger. Therefore, surgery is the only way of getting rid of the lump altogether.
I just had the otoplasty procedure at MACS clinic in Watford. From the initial consultation through to the surgery itself, I felt totally looked after by the brilliant staff. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, the clinic is very nice and I felt at ease at all times. Mr Vadodaria was very thorough, reassuring and happy to answer any questions and the surgery itself was painless. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the clinic to anyone!
– Jessica Barber –
Fantastic service! Lovely and approachable staff. Surgeon was incredibly informative, took the time to answer all my questions. Would highly recommend!
– Rajpal Gore –
5 stars!!! Thank you, I’ve already recommended you to friends and family
– Carlos L R –
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