{"id":496,"date":"2024-11-07T18:00:15","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T17:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lipom.ch\/home\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T17:36:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T15:36:28","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lipom.ch\/en\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dear Patient<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have been diagnosed with a lipoma<\/strong>, or you suspect that you may have one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fat cells are found throughout the body. They are located in the connective tissue under the skin and deeper tissues, as well as next to organs. Their function is to store fat as an energy source. In addition, they have other roles such as thermal insulation and cushioning. The number of fat cells is practically the same from birth. When more food is available, the existing cells enlarge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a lipoma, individual fat cells suddenly multiply and displace other fat cells and the adjacent tissue. In addition to this benign cell division, an increase in cell size is also observed. The reasons for this sudden division, or whether lipomas arise from a type of stem cell, are unknown. The malignant variant of a lipoma, the liposarcoma, is fortunately very rare. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Lipoma
Lipoma on the forehead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Lipomas can occur anywhere on the body. Most lipomas are usually located in the subcutaneous fat tissue, i.e. directly under the skin. Some lipomas are deeper or within the muscles. These either arise directly in the muscle or are pushed into the muscle by external pressure and become enclosed by it. The size of a lipoma can vary from a few millimetres to several centimetres in diameter. The intramuscular lipomas described are found particularly in the trunk and limbs. Rarely, deep-seated lipomas can occur in or behind the abdominal cavity or between bone and muscle. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish certain lipomas from an atheroma<\/a> (a sebaceous cyst, see atherom.ch<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diagnosis and treatment<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A lipoma is recognised as a lump under the skin, with the skin over the lump being movable. In contrast, this is not possible with an atheroma<\/a> or sebaceous cyst<\/a>. These develop in the skin, or from a skin appendage structure. Therefore, atheromas<\/a> are adherent to the skin and cannot be moved independently of it. If the lipoma can be moved only against the skin but not against the underlying tissue, adhesion to or ingrowth into the underlying tissue, for example the muscle, must be assumed.

The main problem with lipomas is not only that they grow and are cosmetically bothersome, but that they can cause symptoms by displacing or growing into surrounding structures. Depending on their location, they can cause various symptoms. For example, headaches can occur with a lipoma in the neck area due to muscle tension, or sensory disturbances if the lipoma presses on a nerve.

It is important to know that lipomas do not regress without treatment; they usually grow slowly. Reasons for removal include growth, an uncomfortable location, and symptoms.

As most lipomas are located directly under the skin, no special additional examinations are required even for larger lipomas. In certain cases\u2014very deep, large, immobile lipomas or those in anatomically difficult locations\u2014an MRI is performed. If you do not wait too long and the lipoma is not very large, it can be removed without difficulty in the practice under local anaesthesia. The cosmetic result is very good. Very large lipomas, or those in an anatomically difficult location, e.g. on the neck, I operate on in hospital under general anaesthesia.

A frequently asked question is whether lipomas can be removed other than by a classic operation (incision and suturing). Several options are offered: <\/p>\n\n\n\n