Skin Lump Surgery - Lipoma Removal Singapore
Skin Lumps
Skin lumps are areas of abnormal raised skin or swelling under the skin. Some lumps can be hard, some soft. Some are adhered to the skin, or even in the skin, while others may be moveable under the skin.
Possible Causes of Lumps on the Skin
Lumps on the skin can be caused by a variety of health conditions, ranging from benign cysts to malignant tumours. Common types and causes include lipomas (benign fatty tumors), cysts (fluid-filled sacs), abscesses (pus-filled infections), and sebaceous hyperplasia (overgrowth of oil glands). In some cases, lumps may represent an underlying systemic disorder such as a thyroid condition or inflammatory disease.
If you have a skin lump that is increasing in size, causes pain, or has a change in appearance, you will need a medical assessment. You should seek medical consultation and may want to consider a biopsy or removal.
Skin Lump Removal Surgery
Surgical excision of small skin lumps can be carried out under local anaesthesia as a day surgery procedure. This procedure involves making a small cut in the skin to completely remove the entire lump. Depending on what the lump is, a small sliver of skin may be removed together with the lump to ensure complete removal.
A topical anaesthetic cream is first applied to minimize the pain from injection of local anaesthesia. You will not feel any pain during the surgery though gross touch can still be felt. The lump will be excised and sent for histological analysis.
Depending on your needs, and where the lump is taken out from, you can even return to work on the same day. There is minimal downtime involved except to allow the wound to heal.
Our clinic will be able to assist you with direct insurance e-filing and medisave claims if the excision of your skin lump is done for medical reasons.
Lipoma Removal Singapore
What Is Lipoma & What Causes It?
A lipoma is a lump that can be felt under the skin. It is a benign tumour made up of a lump of fatty cells or adipocytes. It can appear anywhere in the body and is usually non-cancerous. As the name suggests, it is found within the fat layer of our body, usually below the skin and above the deeper muscle layer. It commonly appears on the chest, abdomen and back as well as upper limb.
The cause of the growth of lipoma is not well understood. It is more common in adults than in children or adolescents. There are some uncommon genetic conditions in which a person can develop multiple lipomata.
Lipoma can appear as a single lump or feel like there are multiple lumps in one (multiloculated) or in multiple different places in the body. It is usually a soft, well-defined lump that is fairly mobile under the skin.
Most of the time, a lipoma does not cause pain. It can be completely asymptomatic. However, a lipoma can be present in inconvenient parts of your body e.g. near or over joints, in exposed areas which makes them susceptible to injury in daily activities, over the back of thighs or buttocks where they may get compressed when sitting, over areas where belts or straps may traumatize it. In these instances, lipomas can be easily traumatized, be uncomfortable, or even painful.
It may also be unsightly if it grows on an exposed part of the body e.g. forehead, neck.
Lipoma Surgery
Lipoma Removal Surgery
Removal of lipoma is not always necessary. However, it may sometimes grow in an inconvenient part of your body, cause discomfort, or grow in size.
You may then want to consider removal and a histological test of the lump. Most lipomas can be removed as a day surgery procedure. Usually, a topical anaesthetic cream is first applied over the area. The local anaesthetic is injected into the surrounding area before a skin cut is made and the lump is dissected out and removed for histology. The wound is then closed and a dressing applied.
If the lipoma is very large, or situated in a deep or inaccessible area, imaging tests e.g. CT scan or MRI may be required before surgery is planned. Lipomas that are larger in size or in a sensitive area may need to be removed under general anaesthesia.
Liposuction has been used in some cases of lipoma removal. However, one drawback with this method is that the lump may not be removed in its entirety or in its original form for the histological test.
FAQs on Lipoma Excision
Who is A Good Candidate for Lipoma Removal Surgery?
Most people will be able to tolerate removal or excision of lipoma. Individuals who are on blood thinners or anti-clotting medications may need to stop the medications prior to surgery. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your medication schedule.
Possible Risk & Side Effects Of Lipoma Removal Procedure
After surgery, you may experience some mild pain and bruising over the surgical site for the first few days. These should spontaneously subside with time. You may be given some analgesia to tide you over the initial period. The wound takes about 1-2 weeks to heal, and the surgical scar will fade over time.
Possible side effects include bleeding and bruising of the area. Recurrence though possible is uncommon if the entire lump is removed.
How To Prepare For The Lipoma Removal Procedure
You do not need any preparation before the lipoma removal procedure. If you are taking anti-clotting medications, please inform your surgeon before surgery.
What To Expect During The Lipoma Surgery
If your surgery is performed under local anaesthesia, you will be awake during the entire duration of surgery. You will not feel pain as the entire area would have been anaesthetized before the surgery. However, you will be able to feel sensation of gross movement. You will be able to converse with your surgeon and should communicate any sensation of discomfort.
What To Expect After the Procedure
You will have a dressing to cover the surgical area after the procedure. This dressing is usually water-resistant in nature for your convenience. However, you should keep the dressing as dry as possible. You will be reviewed in clinic within a week of surgery for dressing change and wound inspection. During the clinic visit, your specialist will also give you the histology report once it is ready.
After wound healing, your specialist will advise you on scar management to ensure that the scar fades well with time.
How Long Does It Take To Recover After The Lipoma Surgery?
Generally, it takes about 1-2 weeks for the wound to heal. The actual time taken for wound healing will depend on the location of lipoma removal surgery, as well as size of lipoma which in turn determines the surgical area involved.
If your surgery was performed under local anaesthesia, you may even be able to return to work on the same day or next day if your work does not involve strenuous activities.
We advise that you avoid sports or strenuous activities until your wound heals. Swimming or any activity that can cause your dressings to get wet or dislodged should be avoided. If your wound is in an exposed area of the body e.g. face, we advise that you also avoid excessive sun exposure.
Can I Claim Insurance For The Lipoma Surgery In Singapore?
Yes, our clinic will assist you with your insurance claims if your surgery is performed for a medical purpose. If you do not have medical insurance, we can also assist you with your application for Medisave claims.
Why Choose WC Ong Plastic Reconstructive Surgery Clinic
- Dr. Ong Wei Chen is a fully accredited plastic surgeon with over 20 years of surgical experience
- Having an in-depth understanding of reconstructive and plastic surgical techniques allows her patients to enjoy superior results in terms of wound healing and post-surgical scarring
- No hidden cost. Transparent pricing based on MOH fee guidelines.
- Highly personalized and patient-centered. Receive dedicated and consistent quality care you deserve.
- Medisave accredited clinic. Our helpful staff will be assisting you with every detail of your visit from paperwork, medical insurance claims & e-filing procedures.
- Highly trained and qualified clinic staff team who are friendly, knowledgeable and attention to details
- Equipped with latest and cutting-edge aesthetic equipment and technology
- Lifelong relationship. We view every patient as a member of the WC Ong Plastic Reconstructive Surgery family and believe in building lifelong trusting relationships.
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Contact Us Today
Call us at 6265-8168 to book an appointment with our female plastic surgeon or fill in the enquiry form and our staff will get back to you as soon as possible.