Lipoma
A lipoma is a benign growth of fatty tissue that develops under the skin. It is one of the most common soft-tissue tumours and one of the most harmless: it…
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A lipoma is a benign growth of fatty tissue that develops under the skin. It is one of the most common soft-tissue tumours and one of the most harmless: it does not turn into cancer, does not invade neighbouring tissue, and in many cases needs no treatment at all. That said, any new lump under the skin should be looked at by a clinician — a lipoma feels much like several other things, and they cannot be told apart without an examination.
How to recognise one
- soft or doughy to the touch, with a slight springiness when pressed;
- mobile — it slides under the skin if you push it with a finger;
- usually painless;
- slow-growing over years, typically anywhere from pea-sized to several centimetres;
- the skin above it is unchanged: no redness, scaling or warmth;
- it can appear anywhere, most often on the neck, shoulders, back, abdomen, arms and thighs.
Having several lipomas is not unusual, and it sometimes runs in families.
When to see a clinician
- any new lump has appeared under the skin — even one that causes no trouble;
- the lump is hard, immobile, or tethered to the surrounding tissue;
- it is growing quickly or has passed 5 cm;
- it has become painful or warm, or the skin above it has reddened;
- it gets in the way: pressing on a nerve, rubbing against clothing, limiting movement;
- it sits on the face, the hand or anywhere else that shows.
The key warning signs are hardness, lack of movement and rapid growth. Those are precisely what separate a lump needing investigation from a quiet lipoma.
How it is diagnosed
An examination is usually enough: the characteristic softness and mobility are recognisable. Where there is doubt, or the lump is large or deep, an ultrasound of the soft tissues is arranged, and less often an MRI. If the picture is atypical, the lump is removed and sent for histology to establish exactly what it is.
Does it need removing?
If a lipoma is not growing, not painful and not in the way, it can simply be watched — no treatment required. Removal is discussed when it enlarges, causes discomfort, presses on a nerve, looks unsightly, or when the diagnosis is uncertain.
The operation is straightforward: under local anaesthetic the clinician makes a small incision and takes the lipoma out along with its capsule, which lowers the chance of it returning in the same spot. It takes 20 to 40 minutes, stitches come out after one or two weeks, and a small scar is left. For large, deep lipomas surgery is more involved and is planned separately.
What a lipoma is not
It is sometimes confused with a sebaceous cyst, which has a tiny opening on the skin and tends to become inflamed. An enlarged lymph node, a hernia and a fibroma can feel similar, and rarely so can a malignant soft-tissue tumour — a liposarcoma. That one is distinguished by its firmness, rapid growth and deep position. It is uncommon, but ruling it out is exactly why any new lump is worth showing to a clinician.
Common questions
Can a lipoma become cancer? No, a lipoma does not transform. A liposarcoma is a tumour in its own right, not a degenerated lipoma.
Can it be removed without surgery? Creams, compresses and physiotherapy have no effect on a lipoma. Removal is the only reliable method.
Will another one appear? Rarely at the site of a fully removed lipoma. But people prone to them may develop others elsewhere.
Why do they form? The exact cause is unknown. Inherited tendency plays a part, and probably previous injury to the area.
Online consultation
In an online appointment a doctor can go through your description and photographs of the lump, judge whether any features call for investigation, explain whether an ultrasound is needed, and advise whether removal is worth planning. Examination and surgery are done in person.
This article is for general information and does not replace a consultation with a doctor.
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Reviewed on Aug 3, 2026
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