Lipoma

Lipomas can appear on most areas of the body, most commonly on your shoulders, chest, arms, back, bottom or thighs. They are soft, squishy, fatty lumps that grow slowly under your skin, and aren’t usually painful. They’re harmless, and don’t usually need any treatment.

Lipomas are very common. They:

  • can be anything from the size of a pea, to a few centimetres across
  • may move slightly if pressed
Local commissioning policies are in place for this condition

Please be aware that there are local commissioning policies in place for this condition. This means that certain treatments may not be available to you on the NHS.

Please click here for more information.

Selfcare and more information

Managing my condition

Lipomas are harmless and are not routinely treated on the NHS however, there is a very small risk that lipomas can change over time and become malignant (cancerous). These cancerous lumps are called “Sarcomas” or “Liposarcomas” and require specialist assessment.

The risk of liposarcomatous change is more common in lesions with:

  • Significant persistent pain that is not solely pressure related
  • Rapid growth over a short period of time
  • Deep fixation to muscle or underlying tissues
  • Previous malignancy

If you have any concerns regarding changes in a Lipoma you should seek a review with your GP. You can find out more about the local policy for this by clicking here.

You may decide to pay a private clinic to remove a lipoma for cosmetic reasons, but it may be expensive. If you would like more information on this, you can find a plastic surgeon by clicking here.

Useful information about lipomas

Waiting for a specialist opinion

If you have been referred for a specialist opinion your details will be reviewed, and it may be recommended that you are seen by a hospital clinician. Information to support you in choosing your preferred hospital, including waiting times can be found below.

How long will I wait?

If a hospital assessment and/or treatment is clinically recommended you will be referred for to a specialist. Click below to find out more about waiting times for routine hospital assessment and/or treatment.