Lipoma removal in Harrogate

Patients frequently ask if a lump is either a cyst or a lipoma. Cysts tend to be firmer than lipomas; they can also have a small opening in the centre of them. Lipomas are generally softer and less restricted in movement beneath the skin. Your surgeon will assess the lump carefully and verify the diagnosis before recommending treatment at your consultation regarding cyst removal in Harrogate. Histology would provide additional assurance if required.

Not all Lipomas need to be treated. Some may be cysts, which are managed differently. Here at our clinic in Harrogate, we generally suggest removal of a Lipoma if the lump causes you discomfort, restricts your ability to move, grows, is located deeper than anticipated or exceeds five centimeters. Additionally, some people simply wish to have their Lipoma removed for comfort, cosmetic reasons or because they wish to eliminate the mass, regardless of whether or not it is growing and both of these are very valid reasons to seek medical care.

Removal of a Lipoma is a simple procedure performed as a day case using local anesthesia. No hospital admission is required. A small incision is made directly above the Lipoma. The Lipoma is then dissected free from the surrounding tissue and the incision is then closed using sutures. Generally, the procedure takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to perform based upon the size and location of the Lipoma.Value comes from matching the treatment depth to the problem, not from choosing the strongest option available. When chosen correctly, CO2 laser can reduce the need for repeated surface treatments that don’t deliver lasting improvement.These risks are reduced with correct patient selection, conservative settings, proper aftercare and experienced clinical oversight. This is why consultation matters as much as the treatment itself.

The procedure itself will cause little to no pain since the area being operated on will be numb due to local anesthetic. Only the initial stinging sensation from the local anesthetic will be felt during the procedure. Mild soreness and swelling in the first few days post surgery are typical but can easily be managed with standard OTC pain relievers.

Patients usually return to light daily activities within 24-48 hours of discharge from the clinic. The wound will usually heal within 7-14 days at which time the sutures will be removed at the follow up visit. Typically, we advise against vigorous physical exertion and heavy lifting for two to four weeks after the surgery, depending on the size and the location of the excision.

Recurrence rates are extremely low when a lesion is completely excised including its fibrous capsule and is approximately 1-3% in general. Recurrence is far more likely to occur if the excision was incomplete. Individuals who have a family history of developing multiple lipomas are more prone to doing so; however, this is a genetic disposition and not a result of incomplete excision.

Here at our clinic in Harrogate, routine histopathological examination of excised tissue is performed to provide formal diagnostic confirmation and to verify that nothing has been overlooked. In addition for larger, deeper or rapidly growing lesions, histologic examination is not merely recommended, it is medically necessary to rule out the possibility of other rare soft tissue tumours prior to assuming that the lesion is benign.