Why Do I Have Multiple Lipomas, and How Are They Treated?
By Dr. Sushrut Tated, plastic surgeon · Updated
Multiple lipomas are several benign fatty lumps under the skin. Many people tend to form them, and in some families the tendency is inherited. Most need no treatment, but lumps that grow, hurt or bother you can be removed, often several in one sitting. Any lump that is hard, fixed or growing fast should be checked. See multiple lipoma removal.
Dr. Sushrut explains multiple lipoma surgery
What are multiple lipomas?
A lipoma is a soft, rubbery lump of fat cells enclosed in a thin capsule under the skin. It moves slightly when pressed, grows slowly and is benign. Many people have one or two. Some develop several, or even dozens, over the years, most often on the arms, trunk, back, neck and thighs.
Having many lipomas is usually just a personal tendency. It is not caused by eating fatty food and is not a sign of being overweight.
Why do some people get many lipomas?
| Reason | What it means |
|---|---|
| Personal tendency | The commonest situation: several lipomas appear over time with no wider cause |
| Familial multiple lipomatosis | An inherited condition, usually autosomal dominant, causing many lipomas on the trunk and limbs, often starting in early adulthood |
| Angiolipomas | A type of lipoma with more blood vessels; often several, and can be tender |
| Rare syndromes | Multiple lipomas occasionally occur with other features as part of an inherited syndrome |
A doctor will ask about your family, any other skin changes and your general health. Most people with multiple lipomas do not have an underlying syndrome.
How can you tell a lipoma from other lumps?
| Lump | Typical feel | Other clues |
|---|---|---|
| Lipoma | Soft, rubbery, moves under the skin | Slow-growing; usually not tender |
| Skin cyst | Firmer, attached to the skin | Often a tiny dark opening; may become red and discharge |
| Swollen lymph gland | Rubbery, in the neck, armpit or groin | Often follows an infection and settles within weeks |
| Angiolipoma | Like a lipoma, but tender | Often several, in younger adults |
A doctor can usually tell these apart on examination; a scan helps when it is unclear. Skin cysts are treated differently; see sebaceous cyst removal.
Which lumps need checking?
Every new lump should be checked once. See a doctor sooner if a lump:
- is larger than about 5 cm or growing quickly;
- feels hard or fixed, or lies deep under muscle;
- is painful, red or hot;
- has returned after removal.
These features do not mean cancer, but an ultrasound or MRI scan may be advised. A rare fatty cancer called liposarcoma can look like a lipoma, which is why removed lumps are examined in the laboratory.
How are multiple lipomas treated?
Most lipomas need no treatment. Removal is chosen when lumps are visible, ache, press on nerves, catch on clothing or keep growing.
| Approach | Suits | Points to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Observation | Small lumps causing no trouble | Lumps stay and may slowly enlarge |
| Excision | Most lipomas | Removed whole with the capsule; lowest chance of return |
| Liposuction | Selected soft lipomas, or several in one area | Smaller openings; more chance of leftover tissue |
| Staged removal | Many lipomas over different areas | Planned over two or more sessions, starting with the most troublesome |
A long-term study of combined liposuction and excision found it to be a safe option for removing lipomas, with uncommon recurrence.
What happens on the day of removal?
- The lumps to be removed are marked and the order agreed.
- Local anaesthetic is injected around each lump.
- Each lipoma is removed through a small cut, or by liposuction for selected lumps.
- The wounds are closed with fine stitches and covered with dressings.
- The removed tissue is sent for laboratory examination.
Most people go home the same day and return to desk work within a few days.
Myths about multiple lipomas
- “Lipomas turn into cancer.” Ordinary lipomas are benign and are not thought to become cancerous.
- “Losing weight will shrink them.” Lipomas usually stay the same size.
- “Creams or injections dissolve them for good.” There is no reliable non-surgical cure.
- “All lipomas must be removed.” Many can safely be left alone.
What should you ask your doctor?
- Do any of my lumps need a scan before removal?
- How many can be removed in one session, and how many sessions might I need?
- Excision or liposuction: which suits each lump?
- What should I watch for in the future?
For details of the procedure, recovery and cost factors, see multiple lipoma removal. A lump in the armpit is assessed a little differently; see armpit lipoma removal.
Frequently asked questions
Are multiple lipomas dangerous?
Usually not. Ordinary lipomas are benign. A lump that is large, hard, fixed, deep, painful or growing quickly should be checked, sometimes with a scan, to rule out other causes.
Can all my lipomas be removed at once?
Several can often be removed in one sitting under local anaesthesia. If there are many, or they are spread over different parts of the body, removal may be planned over more than one session.
Will removing lipomas stop new ones forming?
No. Removal treats the lumps that are there. People who tend to form lipomas may develop new ones over the years.
Do diet or exercise get rid of lipomas?
No. Lipomas are not ordinary body fat, so they usually stay the same size even with weight loss.
Are multiple lipomas inherited?
Sometimes. Familial multiple lipomatosis runs in families and causes many lipomas, usually on the trunk and limbs. Ask your relatives whether they have similar lumps.
References
- Lipoma. NHS.
- Lipoma (StatPearls). NCBI Bookshelf, StatPearls Publishing.
- Lipomas: genetic basis of common skin lesions and their occurrence in rare diseases. PubMed Central.
- A Comprehensive Case Report on Familial Multiple Lipomatosis. PubMed Central.
- Combined liposuction and excision of lipomas: long-term evaluation of a large sample of patients. PubMed.
