Consumer edition active

Lipomas

Reviewed/Revised May 2024
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
Get the full details
Topic Resources

What are lipomas?

Lipomas are round or oval lumps of fat that grow under your skin.

  • They're not cancer

  • They don't cause any problems, but you might not like how they look

  • Women are more likely to get them than men

  • They can be anywhere on your body

Lipomas are most likely to be on your:

  • Forearms

  • Chest

  • Stomach

  • Neck

What are the symptoms of lipomas?

Lipomas are smooth bumps under your skin. They can feel soft or firm, but not hard.

  • They're usually less than 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) wide

  • Normal skin covers the bump

  • You usually have only one lipoma, but some people have many

  • Lipomas usually don't cause any symptoms, but rarely they hurt a little bit

How do doctors treat lipomas?

Lipomas usually don't need treatment.

If there are changes to a lipoma, your doctor may take out a piece of it to look at under a microscope (biopsy).

If your lipomas bother you, doctors can remove them using:

  • Surgery

  • Liposuction (sucking out body fat with a machine)

quizzes_lightbulb_red
Test your KnowledgeTake a Quiz!
Download the free MSD Manual App iOS ANDROID
Download the free MSD Manual App iOS ANDROID
Download the free MSD Manual App iOS ANDROID