Benign Fatty Lumps (Lipoma)

Fatty lumps, which can form in various sizes, are surrounded by a type of capsule and can appear in white or yellow colors. Fatty lumps are a condition that can be seen at almost any age during adulthood. They are rarer in children. Fatty lumps that occur in visible parts of the body bother the person aesthetically. However, squeezing these lumps at home or emptying them with a needle increases the risk of developing infection. In addition, it can cause scars on the skin. Therefore, when fatty lumps are encountered, it is essential to consult a healthcare institution and a specialist doctor. Op. Dr. İbrahim Çolhan, who serves his patients in Adana, explained what benign fatty lumps are, why they form, and how they are treated.

What is a Fatty Lump?

When fats accumulated in the body settle under the skin and are encapsulated, a fatty lump, or lipoma, emerges. These lumps superficially resemble a simple tumor. Mostly benign, fatty lumps are aesthetically bothersome. Benign fatty lumps, which can be seen in almost every part of the human body, are usually found in areas such as the shoulders, scalp, face, genital area, back, and neck.

Most fatty lumps are soft. When we press them with our hands, we feel as if they are moving. This is because fatty lumps are not completely integrated with the skin. Fatty lumps are a condition that can be seen in people of almost all ages. However, their incidence is rarer in children. Benign fatty lumps generally do not cause pain, but if they do, it means medical intervention is required.

Fat cells, like other cells, tend to grow and multiply over time. Sometimes, situations where fatty lumps get out of control and grow excessively can occur. In such cases, growing fatty lumps are surgically removed from the body.

What are the Symptoms of Fatty Lumps?

The most characteristic symptom of fatty lumps is a swelling that forms on the tissue. This swelling shows slow but continuous growth. Fatty lumps occurring in the facial area can often range from a pinhead to a few millimeters. In contrast, swellings from fatty lumps in the back and neck areas can be deeper and larger.

Deep fatty lumps occurring in different parts of the body are located in the deeper layers of the skin, so only swelling is felt. It may not be possible to see the fat layers from the outside. Generally, they do not cause pain. However, if the lump is hit, infected, or malignant, pain and discharge may occur. If fatty lumps are growing rapidly, experiencing color changes, or causing severe pain, surgical intervention and pathological examination of the removed tissue are necessary.

Why Do Fatty Lumps Occur?

Although the exact cause of fatty lumps is not definitively known, there are some factors believed to increase the likelihood of their formation. These factors include:

• Genetic predisposition
• Trauma to the skin
• Unhealthy eating habits
• Metabolic disorders
• Advanced age
• Diabetes
• Insulin resistance
• Liver diseases
• Conditions like obesity increase the likelihood of fatty lump formation.

Why Do Fatty Lumps Appear?

Fatty lumps become prominent on the skin as a result of fat accumulation under the skin and clogged oil glands. The fat accumulated within the clogged oil gland cannot exit over time. Therefore, it eventually turns into a sac and becomes visible on the skin. If we need to give a clear answer to the question of why fatty lumps form, it is due to the inability of the oil glands to maintain their normal functions.

What are the Types of Fatty Lumps?

Fatty lumps are structurally evaluated in three different categories. These are:

Fat Cysts

Fat cysts, which generally appear on the scalp, are not exactly lump-like in structure. They are a more fluid fatty mass. The skin layer above them is very thin.

Benign Fatty Tissue Tumors

Fatty tissue tumors, often seen in the back and neck areas and having a lump structure, are mostly benign. The fatty mass inside them is light yellow in color and structurally harder. Other cysts may grow over time. Therefore, they need to be surgically removed.

Malignant Fatty Tissue Tumors

Masses that occur when the fatty tissue under the skin becomes cancerous are malignant fatty tissues. These tissues are called liposarcomas. These fatty lumps, which we rarely detect, are relatively softer in structure and should be surgically removed.

How are Fatty Lumps Diagnosed?

Fatty lumps visible to the eye can be diagnosed with a physical examination. Fat cysts are generally round in shape. They have a point in the middle and appear slightly reddish around it. Most types of fatty lumps move when we press them with our hand.

However, hard, immobile swellings may indicate another disease. Although it varies depending on where they occur, fatty lumps are generally soft. However, harder and larger fatty lumps should be examined with ultrasonography.

How Do Subcutaneous Fatty Lumps Go Away?

Different options are available for the treatment of subcutaneous fatty lumps. Mostly, non-invasive treatment methods are applied. Fatty lumps can be reduced or completely eliminated with methods such as laser therapy, medication applications, and cryotherapy. The treatment method to be applied is determined according to the type, location, and size of the fatty lump. An evaluation by a specialist doctor is required to decide on the best treatment method.

How is Fatty Lump Removal Performed?

To have fatty lumps removed, you must first consult a specialist doctor. Your doctor will evaluate the type and size of the lump and decide on the most appropriate treatment option. Depending on the situation, surgical treatment, laser, or medication applications may be decided.

How is Fatty Lump Treatment Performed?

The vast majority of fatty lumps, ninety-nine percent, are benign and do not tend to become cancerous over time. However, fatty lumps that appear in the neck and face area bother the person aesthetically, so they want to get rid of them. In addition, fatty tissue tumors occurring in the back area can cause pain.

Some fatty lumps can become infected as a result of touch or trauma. This leads to symptoms such as discharge, redness, and pain. In such cases, removal of the fatty lump may be considered. This small-scale surgical intervention is performed under local anesthesia. This intervention, which can be completed in less than half an hour, does not require hospitalization. People who have had fatty lumps removed can be discharged the same day and return home, continuing their daily lives from where they left off.

In cases where fatty lumps do not cause aesthetic or health discomfort, no intervention may be necessary. However, it should not be forgotten that these masses can rarely be malignant. Therefore, masses suspected of cancer and growing rapidly should be subjected to biopsy examination. Biopsy samples taken are pathologically examined. Subsequently, necessary treatments can be planned.