No, lipomas are not hard or fixed. However, if you have a hard and immovable lump, there are chances that it is a liposarcoma, i,e., a cancerous lump. It is vital that you get the lump diagnosed and get it treated.

It is not advisable to leave lipoma untreated as it risks growing more prominent and more painful. A lipoma may pressurize the surrounding blood vessels when left untreated for a prolonged time. Timely medical treatment is the only safe way out.

Doctors recommend surgical excision of lipoma when medical treatment proves to be ineffective, or the lipoma recurs. Advanced lipoma surgery immediately removes lipoma and does not leave behind significant scars. The chances of recurrence are almost nil after lipoma surgery, and the success rate is much higher than the other treatment methods. Further, there is no need for complete bed rest. Observing a few precautions advised by the doctor, like refraining from strenuous physical activities, helps in full recovery.

The exact cause of a lipoma is not known yet. However, genetics and the age group of 40-60 years are the two major risk factors for lipomas.

Lipomas can develop anywhere in the body. Neck, back, abdomen, shoulders, thicks, and arms are the body parts where lipomas are commonly seen. They are generally soft and pasty to the touch.

A lipoma is a painless lump that develops beneath the skin. It can move slightly when pressed with a finger. Usually, a lipoma is less than 2 inches in diameter but can gradually grow with time.

No. Lipoma is not cancerous. It is a collection of fat tissues only. However, there are other types of skin lumps present, such as liposarcoma that are cancerous in nature. It is often advised to get the skin lump to diagnose to rule out the possibility of cancer. 

Lipoma excision surgery can be performed under local as well as general anesthesia. The type of anesthesia that will be used during the procedure is decided after evaluating the overall health of the patients. The anesthetist will ask some questions to find out if the patient is allergic to some or any component of the anesthetic agent. Only then, he/she will decide what type of anesthesia is used. 

Usually, there are almost negligible chances of lipoma recurrence after it is removed surgically. But you should also understand that there are still chances that you may get lipomas again in other parts of the body. 

The overall cost of lipoma surgery varies from one patient to another due to the following factors:

• The number and size of the lipoma
• The location of the lump 
• The severity of the condition 
• Surgeon’s fee 
• Diagnostic tests 
• Hospital admission/discharge expense 
• Medications 

On average, the recovery after lipoma surgery takes around 1-2 weeks. You will be able to resume normal activities from the next day. You may require more time to recover if you had multiple painful lipomas. 

Lipoma excision surgery is performed on an outpatient basis. Thus, there is no need to stay overnight in the hospital. However, in some cases, the doctor may ask you to stay overnight to monitor your health. 

In some cases, there is a minor possibility that the fatty lump will go away on its own. However, there is no natural remedy known to be effective for the treatment of lipomas. The best method to get rid of the lump is to get it removed surgically. 

Things that worsen lipoma pain in Dercum disease include stress, overactivity and extreme temperatures

The lipomas may occur anywhere on the body and can cause severe pain. Other symptoms may include weakness, fatigue, and memory disturbances.

The risks and complications increase when an individual delays the treatment or neglects the condition. Timely consultation with the doctor is necessary to rule out the possibility of cancer, called liposarcoma. It is best not to avoid surgical treatment if advised by the doctor. Furthermore, it is best to opt for advanced minimally invasive surgical treatment to minimize the chances of complications during and after the surgery.

Some of the common risks and complications associated with lipoma surgery are:

• Bruising and numbness in the skin surrounding the operated area
• Skin damage or death of skin tissues above the treated area
• Anesthesia related complications such as lidocaine toxicity, seizures, etc
• Infection at the site of the surgery
• Forming of a blood clot (that can be potentially fatal)

Such risks and complications can be significantly avoided when choosing a certified and reliable healthcare provider.  

Most lipomas don’t require treatment, and you can even have one without knowing. However, some can cause issues — such as pain, physical discomfort, or cosmetic concerns.

Lipomas are more common in those with high cholesterol than in those whose cholesterol levels are in a healthy range.

Superficial lipomas can almost always be diagnosed clinically. In cases where imaging is obtained, lipomas have a characteristic appearance on ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The most common way to treat a lipoma is to remove it through surgery . This is especially helpful if you have a large skin tumor that’s still growing.