Which type of doctor is best for lipoma?

Author: Dr. Melany Williamson II  |  Last update: Sunday, July 6, 2025

You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or primary doctor. You may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist). Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

Who is the best person to remove a lipoma?

People can have more than one lipoma. Treatment generally isn't necessary unless the lipoma becomes painful or grows larger. Dermatologists, cosmetic facial plastic surgeons, and plastic surgeons at UT Southwestern have extensive experience in evaluating and treating people with lipomas.

Is an ultrasound or MRI better for lipomas?

MRI is the modality of choice for imaging lipomas, not only to confirm the diagnosis, which is usually strongly suggested by ultrasound and CT but also to better assess for atypical features suggesting liposarcoma. Additionally, MRI is better able to demonstrate the surrounding anatomy.

What specialist removes lipomas?

Role: Plastic surgeons are specialists in cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, including the removal of lipomas.

Do all dermatologists remove lipomas?

Lipoma removal is usually carried out by a Dermatologist but may also be carried out by others with training in skin surgery procedures.

Doctor explains LIPOMA | Symptoms, clinical photos and treatment

Why don't doctors want to remove lipomas?

Somewhat doughy in texture and usually under two inches wide, they tend to be harmless, so lipoma removal is not always necessary. If you press on one, it will move easily. Lipomas seldom are painful, unless they touch nearby nerve endings or contain an abundance of blood vessels.

Does insurance pay for lipoma removal?

Your health insurance will usually cover the excision of the lipoma. However, without insurance, the cost of removing a lipoma can range from $1000-$3000, depending on the size of the growth, its location on the body, and other factors.

Which doctor is best for lipoma?

You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or primary doctor. You may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist). Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What is the new treatment for lipomas?

Focused Ultrasound Therapy

Where the beams converge, focused ultrasound produces precise ablation (thermal destruction of tissue) enabling lipoma removal to be accomplished without surgery. The primary option for treatment of lipomas that require removal is invasive surgery.

At what size should a lipoma be removed?

All lipomas in the upper extremities measuring larger than 5 cm in a single dimension should be surgically removed due to malignant potential. Preoperatively, imaging is important to delineate the extent of the lesion and to assist in operative planning. We recommend MRI for its ability to discern tissue planes.

What is the main cause of lipoma?

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

What can be mistaken for lipoma?

Soft-tissue Sarcoma:

The cancerous tumor called soft-tissue sarcoma can look similar to a cyst or lipoma and appear in similar places.

How much does it cost to remove a lipoma?

Because lipomas are benign growths, insurance may or may not cover the cost of lipoma removal. While costs can vary, it may start at $1000 upwards to remove a lipoma, depending on the size and location of the lipoma.

What injections dissolve lipomas?

Complete dissolution of a large lipoma after a single session of deoxycholic acid injection has also been reported. Thus, injection lipolysis can be an excellent addition to the armamentarium of a dermatologist, especially when patients present with multiple lipomas or are averse to surgery.

How do you shrink a lipoma naturally?

Combine turmeric with neem oil or flaxseed oil to make an ointment for lipoma. All these ingredients have healing properties and reduce inflammation. Make a paste and cover the lump with the paste. Also, cover it with a bandage to protect your clothes from turning orange or yellow.

What is the drug of choice for lipomas?

Multiple lipomas in a patient are also frequently encountered. Injection lipolysis is a rapidly growing technique for dissolving fat for non-surgical body contouring. [1] A case of solitary lipoma, treated with phosphatidylcholine/sodium deoxycholate without any recurrence even after 9 months is hereby presented.

Should a dermatologist or plastic surgeon remove a lipoma?

Dermatologists can remove lipomas if they keep growing or become bothersome. Our certified dermatologists examine the lipoma and will decide the best course of action to take to remove it. The treatments include a simple procedure of surgically removing the tumor.

Do orthopedic doctors treat lipomas?

If a lipoma becomes painful, grows, or is pressing on a nerve or organ, it can be removed at DOC by an orthopedic surgeon with a simple excision procedure.

Can lipomas turn cancerous?

Lipomas: Most benign lipomas don't turn cancerous. In 2 percent of cases, a specific kind of tumor called an atypical lipoma may become a liposarcoma. Previous radiation therapy: Receiving radiation therapy can cause a liposarcoma to form years later.

Is CT scan or MRI better for lipoma?

MRI has been recommended as a reliable preoperative investigation. It has been employed in intramuscular lipoma, pediatric lipoblastomas, and others. The findings of intramuscular lipomas, for example, range from small, homogeneous masses to large, inhomogeneous lesions with infiltrative margins.

Is it worth getting lipoma removed?

In most cases, lipomas don't require treatment. However, if you have a lipoma that causes pain or discomfort, soft tissue surgery or excision of the lipoma is the best solution.

Which doctor is responsible for lipoma treatment?

A dermatologist and a general surgeon are certified to perform a lipoma surgery. The removal of lipomas that are larger or situated in deeper tissues might be handled by general surgeons because they are proficient in a variety of surgical methods.

What happens if lipoma is not removed?

Lipomas are harmless and do not usually need to be removed. They would only be removed on the NHS if it was growing or causing symptoms because of where it is. If you have it removed it may be sent to a laboratory to check it is a lipoma.

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