What is a lipoma: causes, symptoms, treatment, removal

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A lipoma on the back is not only a cosmetic defect: the neoplasm can lead to blood poisoning and degenerate into a malignant tumor. It is better to remove it in a specialized clinic.

Any tumors on the back can lead to injuries, blood poisoning and, unfortunately, degenerate into a malignant tumor. Wen (lipoma) is one of these neoplasms. It is better to remove it in a clinic, and before surgery, consult with your doctor.

Consultation on the day of the procedure is free

Symptoms, signs, diagnosis of lipoma

Before you remove a wen, you need to make sure that it is exactly that. The shape of the wen formed under the skin is round or oval. It is mobile and soft to the touch; as a rule, no pain is felt when pressing on it.

Fatty deposits located under the skin of the face, neck, back, arms and other parts of the body usually do not cause any symptoms. A lipoma formed on internal organs causes the following symptoms:

When a lipoma appears in the esophagus, coughing, nausea, and a feeling that there is a foreign body in the throat may occur;
Chest pain may be the cause of lipoma formation in the mammary gland;
Symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting may occur with a lipoma in the brain.

A lipoma is diagnosed visually during a clinical examination; if this is not enough, using ultrasound, x-rays, and computed tomography.

Treatment of wen

Despite the fact that a wen under the skin usually does not cause any inconvenience, many people are interested in how to remove a lipoma . First of all, you should consult a doctor, especially in cases where inflammation of the wen has occurred. Those who are wondering how to squeeze out a wen should know that you should never do this yourself.

Removing wen at home can not only provoke infection into the wound, but also leave unsightly atrophic scars. However, in addition to the medical procedures that a doctor can offer, there are also traditional medicine and pharmaceutical preparations that will help cope with this problem.

Lipoma on the back, what is it and what does it look like?

In some cases, the capsule may be absent, in which case the base of the lipoma consists of adipose tissue interspersed with muscle fibers and blood vessels.
This is a benign tumor and appears as a flexible, soft, and movable lump under the skin.
The size of the tumor can vary, it can be a small pea or large fat in the back with a diameter of up to 10-20 cm.

Scattered lipomas are called lipomatosis. In most cases, they tend to unite, forming a huge fatty tissue on the back with no clear boundaries. Such tumors are enucleated (so-called surgical exfoliation).

Main locations

Favorite places for tumors to occur are the upper back.

Fats are usually found on :

shoulder strap;
posterior projection of the sternum;
shoulder blades.

Lipomas in these areas, such as fat under the shoulder blade on the back, are usually not a cause for concern. Pain can occur when the tumor grows strongly or due to inflammation.

Less common are lipomas in the coccyx and sacrum in the lumbar region. They are usually removed because lipomas in this area are more likely to be damaged or inflamed.

Why is a lipoma on the back dangerous?

It is possible to develop a purulent abscess, in which the fat on the back itches and enlarges. The person may experience an increase in body temperature.

To treat inflamed fat, it is necessary to consult a surgeon, since the lack of adequate treatment jeopardizes the development of sepsis. For more information on treating inflammation, see the following article.

To exclude a malignant tumor, it is prescribed :

General and biochemical blood test;
Cytological analysis of lipoma content to identify atypical cells.

If the risk of liposarcoma is confirmed, the patient is referred to an oncologist to develop treatment tactics.

Classification

Back fats are mainly classified according to their localization and participation in the pathological process of adjacent tissues and organs:

Intermuscular . Fat builds up through the muscle fibers and can reach the periosteum (the connective tissue that covers the bone). A special feature is the high tendency to relapse if the removal was incomplete or unsuccessful.
Myolipoma . This is the accumulation of fat in soft tissues (tendons, ligaments, muscles, synovium). Subcutaneous localization is very rare (only in approximately 10% of patients).
Lumbar . This type of lipoma develops and grows near the main segments of the spine (intervertebral discs, vertebrae) and in the central canal of the spine. Fever in the posterior part of the spine occurs in 10-50% of cases in people suffering from congenital pathologies and spinal defects.
Perineural . Lipomas grow around nerve cords along the spinal cord. A spinal cord lipoma located in the perineural space is very painful and prone to frequent inflammation with the formation of pus. Difficult to treat.

Lipomas are also classified according to their content, so there are several types of lipomas :

nodes _ The fat content is enclosed in a very dense capsule.
Diffuse . The new formation does not have clear boundaries due to the lack of a capsule.
Fibrolipoma . In addition to containing fat, the capsule contains fibrous connective tissue.
Angiolipoma . Adipose tissue is penetrated by capillaries.

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Thick tissue without clear boundaries is called spilled lipoma. This is usually a large posterior lipoma, but not painful. However, if the tumor causes a functional disorder of the internal organs (bladder or intestines), it must be removed.

Why does a wen appear on the back?

Now scientists have come to the conclusion that the main cause of lipomas is a genetic pathology of enzymes - a mutation of the gene that breaks down lipids and synthesizes protein enzymes. The main role in the accumulation of fat mass belongs to enzyme deficiency.

However, it should be noted that scientists still do not know the exact cause of the appearance of fat.

Several other factors are known to trigger the mechanism of neoplasm formation :

Hormonal imbalance. Puberty, pregnancy, and menopause are periods when metabolic disturbances, including fat metabolism, are common;
pathologies of the endocrine glands, such as the hypothalamus, thyroid gland and other endocrine glands.
Diseases of the central nervous system and traumatic brain injuries;
Diabetes mellitus and other endocrine pathologies, including gout (metabolic disorders that threaten the normal condition and function of the joints, genitourinary system and kidneys).
Hypodynamics. Low physical activity is the cause of many diseases, including the development of tumors.
Obesity and malnutrition (the diet is dominated by foods high in fat and instant carbohydrates);
Bad habits. People with alcohol and drug addiction are more likely to gain fat.
They live in polluted places and work in polluting industries.

Lipomas on the back are twice as common in women as in men, and very rare in children. Many experts believe that this fact points to hormonal deficiency as the main cause of their occurrence.

Clinical manifestations

The standard signs of benign fat formation are as follows: :

Palpation and pressure show a round, soft and painless tumor that does not adhere to the skin;
fat is mobile and has clear boundaries;
The skin over the tumor has a normal color, does not swell, does not itch, and can be easily folded;
Complaints may occur when the back muscles are actively working or when clothing is lost;

When growth is activated, fat begins to put pressure on blood vessels, muscles and nerve endings, causing moderate pain or discomfort in the back near the lipoma

Diagnostics

The primary diagnosis is a visual examination and taking the patient's medical history based on the patient's complaints.

To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor prescribes instrumental examinations, usually :

X-ray of the lipoma area;
ultrasound examination. Allows you to assess the extent of the tumor and its growth rate;
CT or MRI. Used to localize lipomas in vital parts of the body.

Allows mandatory differential diagnosis of lipoma with hygromia, atheroma, lymphadenitis and other benign skin tumors. To learn more about the differences between lipoma, hygromia, and atheroma, click here.

How to remove a wen on the back?

The decision on treatment methods for fatty tumors is made by the doctor based on the results of the diagnosis. The main method is tumor removal, but in some cases conservative therapy may be used.

How to cure?

Small fats that do not grow and are not mechanically damaged are usually not removed. And although drug therapy is practically not used to treat new fat deposits, in this case an attempt to reduce the size of the tumor is justified.

For this purpose, the hormonal drug Diprospan is used. It is administered directly into the capsule at a dose of 0.2 mg/cm2. The total weekly dose should not exceed 1 ml. The drug helps break down fat cells and reduce their formation.

The patient does not feel pain while taking DipoSpan. The course of treatment can last from 2 to 3 months. Contraindications for its use are

kidney disease;
stomach ulcer;
liver failure;
HIV infection;
pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Overdose may cause

depression;
sleep problems;
indigestion;
weight gain;
swelling of the limbs;
exacerbation in diabetics;
decreased bone density.

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How to cut out a wen on the back?

The fat tumor must be removed in :

intensive growth (when fat reaches a diameter of 3 cm or more);
pain at rest and under pressure;
injuries due to friction with clothing;
pronounced aesthetic defect;
disorders of vital organs due to tumor growth;
risk of liposuction.

Removal of a fatty tumor on a thin back is performed on an outpatient basis in the treatment room of a dermatologist or surgeon. Large amounts of lime are performed in the hospital, in some cases under general anesthesia.

Classic removal

The surgical removal algorithm is as follows :

Before the operation begins, the surgical field is treated with bactericidal preparations and covered with sterile linen.
The patient is placed under anesthesia.
Make a clean incision in the area of the fatty tissue, the ends of which are thinned laterally.
A pair of medical tweezers grabs the capsule with its contents and gently pulls it up. It is then removed using a clamp inserted under the tumor.
Fat is removed from surrounding tissue using surgical scissors.
The wound is sutured with an absorbent or regular surgical suture. A bandage or firm bandage is placed over it, after which the patient can go home.

When removing a large fatty tumor, thin drainage tubes can be placed, which are removed after a few days.

Endoscopic removal

After the classic removal of large fatty tumors, the incision left a scar. In an operation performed under endoscopic guidance, a small incision near the tumor is required to remove the same fatty tissue.

Laser removal

The main difference between laser correction and surgical removal is complete freedom from pain, safety and 100% results.

The essence of the procedure is to treat a fatty tumor using a special device that emits low-frequency laser beams. The fatty tumor dissolves after surgery, and the incidence of recurrence is reduced to almost zero.

Radio wave surgery

The method is similar to laser correction, except that a radio knife is used instead of laser beams. Under its influence, the tumor capsule is completely removed from the body, leaving no traces on the skin. Recurrence is also unlikely.

There are different types of benign tumors, some of which can occur on the head, such as osteoma of the temporal bone. You can read about the symptoms and treatment of this pathology in a separate article. If you want to learn about the reasons for the appearance of polyps in the root of the tongue, read here. You will also find information on how to get rid of tumors.

Liposuction

The contents of the fatty tumor are aspirated by a puncture. The disadvantage of this method is that the capsule remains intact, so the chance of relapse is 60-70%.

Cryodestruction and electrocoagulation

The first method uses liquid nitrogen, the second uses high-frequency current. Under its influence, the tumor tissue simply burns and leaves no scars. Complete healing of the wound surface takes an average of 10 days. Of course, these methods are not suitable for large organizations.

After operation

If the removal was surgical, then the postoperative wound should be treated. We are talking about treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and antiseptics recommended by the attending physician. Levomekol or Tetracycline ointment is usually prescribed. It should be applied to the wound several times a day and covered with a sterile cloth or bandage.

Complications after fat tumor removal are rare.

However, they may appear as :

Bleeding;
Filling the cavity left after removing a large tumor with serous fluid containing blood contaminants;
Hyperthermia and swelling at the surgical site.

In these cases, to exclude inflammation, you must consult a doctor. Medical attention is also required for wound ulcers caused by infection.

Loss of sensation in the area of former fatty tissue should also alert the patient.

Complications are reduced to zero if the removal is performed by an experienced surgeon and d

How to get rid of wen on the back at home?

Traditional medicine cannot completely remove fat, but some agents can slow tumor growth. However, before taking these medications, you must know exactly what you are dealing with in the case of a benign tumor. And only a doctor can find out.

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You can also try

Fresh nettle leaves or juice . Make a compress of scalded nettle or apply juice to a fatty tumor 3-4 times a day for a two-week course.
Aloe leaves . Cut off the aloe leaves and put them in the refrigerator for a week. Then wash, cut the leaf in half and apply the pulp to the tumor for 15-30 minutes. Repeat the procedure three times a day for 10-20 days.

Be careful when using traditional recipes, as fats may react to this treatment with inflammation, which worsens the situation.

Additional information about lipomas and their origin:

Conclusion

To prevent the appearance of lipomas on the back, it is necessary to properly care for the skin, pay attention to the exclusion of canned and fatty foods from a nutritious diet, muffins. A timely visit to a doctor with an accurate diagnosis and the prescription of adequate treatment helps to eliminate the development of possible complications.

What is this rampant adenomatous polyp, you can read in this article.
You can get advice directly on our website or make an appointment with a doctor.
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How to remove wen using traditional methods

If it is not possible to visit a doctor’s office, you can try to remove the lipoma yourself. But this applies only to those formations that have appeared recently. If the lipoma is old, it needs to be treated only surgically.

Baked onion

Onions are considered one of the most effective means for removing wen. Do the procedure at least 2 times a day.

Take one medium onion and bake in the oven.
Grind the cooled onion using a meat grinder.
Grate baby soap, add to onion and mix thoroughly.
Apply the resulting mass as a compress to the wen.

Sour cream with honey

Before the procedure, you need to take a hot bath to steam the wen. Then the components of the prepared remedy for wen will better penetrate the adipose tissue of the tumor. Carry out the procedure every other day.

Mix equal amounts of sour cream, honey and sea salt.
Apply the resulting mixture to the problem area.
After 20 minutes, rinse with warm water.

Kinds

The classification of lipoma is as follows:

1) Nodular lipoma - when the fat tissue is enclosed in a dense capsule;

2) Diffuse lipoma - when the wen has no visible outline;

3) Fibrolipoma - if connective and fatty tissues are present inside the lipoma;

4) Angio lipoma - when the wen is penetrated by capillary connections;

5) Myolipoma - at the moment when the process of internal connection of fat with muscle fibers occurs inside the wen;

In addition to the above, wen can be divided depending on the volume and chamber quantity.

Treatment of lipomas with pharmaceutical products

Those who prefer to use pharmaceutical drugs should purchase Vishnevsky ointment. This product should be applied to an adhesive plaster and attached to the affected area, after 2 days the plaster should be replaced with a new one.

You can also use hydrogen peroxide. This drug should be regularly lubricated. After a few days, the skin on the affected area will burst and the contents of the wen will leak out.

lipoma treatment

How a doctor can help you remove a wen

It is highly advisable that lipoma removal be performed by an experienced specialist. After a thorough examination, a dermatologist may prescribe the following procedures to remove wen:

Mechanical cleaning. This method is considered the simplest. The procedure is carried out by piercing the wen with a needle, after which all its contents are removed. Sometimes the procedure is performed under local anesthesia.
Removal of lipoma with laser . Laser therapy is considered the most progressive method for removing fatty tissue. The procedure is very quick and does not leave scars. In addition, the possibility of the wen reappearing in the same place is excluded.

Prevention of lipoma

After lipoma removal, the following preventive measures must be observed:

reduce the consumption of fatty meats and high-fat dairy products;
introduce vegetable oil and fish into the daily menu;
refuse late dinners;
move as much as possible.

You need to follow these recommendations not only if a lipoma has already appeared, but also if there is a hereditary predisposition. Doctors say that the risk group for the formation of wen includes middle-aged and elderly people.

Causes

The scientific world remains not fully informed in the study of spinal lipomas. The foci of wen are considered to be areas of weak layers of fat, for example: the shoulder and its belt.

Possible factors for the manifestation of wen:

1) Imbalance of proteins and fats in the patient’s body;

2) Failure of hormones, menopause;

3) Oversaturation of toxins inside the patient’s body;

4) Inflammatory processes of the sebaceous tract of the body;

5) Hereditary predisposition.

Lipoma on the back occurs in women 2 times more often than in men, and practically does not occur in children. This is evidence to suggest that the main reason for its appearance is hormonal imbalance.