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Many people develop an unusual lump somewhere on their body. Though they’re quite common, you should always have them examined by your primary care physician. Many lumps are benign, but others can harbor cancer.
Dr. Monraz frequently removes two types of lumps and bumps called lipomas and cysts.
A lipoma is a soft lump of fat cells that are enclosed in a layer of tissue and lie just under your skin. Lipomas are benign (not cancerous), but they can slowly enlarge. You may have one or more lipomas anywhere on your body.
Most lipomas don’t cause symptoms. However, a large lipoma can become painful when it presses against nerves. A large lipoma may also make you feel self-conscious or make it hard to wear well-fitted clothing.
Since they don’t pose a risk for cancer, you don’t need to have a lipoma removed. But if your lipoma is painful, bothersome, or embarrassing, you can choose to have it surgically removed.
Cysts develop in tissues throughout your body, including under your skin, where they create a noticeable bump. A cyst is a sac-like structure that contains liquid or other substances.
Sebaceous cysts represent the most common skin cysts. Sebaceous cysts develop when an oil-secreting gland gets blocked and the oil, called sebum, accumulates into a cyst.
Cysts seldom cause symptoms other than the lump, but they can become infected. Infected cysts turn red and painful and may release a foul-smelling fluid. An antibiotic treats the infection. Otherwise, cysts never disappear unless you have surgery to remove them.
Removing a lump basically involves cutting out the tissues. However, the procedure can be more complex, depending on the location and size of your lump. The procedure can usually be done in office with local anesthesia.
Surgery to remove a lump takes about an hour and you go home the same day. Dr. Monraz gives you instructions about how to care for the incision site at home.
You can return to most activities the next day. However, it is recommended holding off on vigorous exercise for a short time, depending on your specific procedure.
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