Lipoma Repe ngako ā-kiri

It is not known what causes a lipoma but there may be a genetic link as they can run in families. Sometimes an injury such as a knock to your body can cause a lipoma to grow.

Lipomas affect males and females equally. But single lipomas are more common in women and multiple lipomas are more common in men. People of any age can get a lipoma, but they are more common in adults.

Lipomas can occur anywhere on your body, but common sites are:

• arms
• back of your neck
• trunk
• thighs.

You may have a single lump or several.

Image of a lipoma —DermNetexternal link

Lipomas are very slow growing and often develop over several years. A lipoma is usually:

• a soft lump that usually starts small but may grow
• not painful, unless it grows large enough to press on a nerve
• soft and squishy, and moves under your skin when you press it.

If you are worried about a lump under your skin, get your healthcare provider to have a look as soon as possible. They can usually diagnose a lipoma by examining the lump.

Sometimes you may need to have further investigations such as a scan or a biopsy.

You do not usually need treatment for a lipoma. If it is causing you problems, for example pressing on a nerve or you do not like the way it looks, it can be removed.

Sometimes, your lipoma will need to be removed so it can be looked at under a microscope. Removing a lipoma is done through a minor operation. This can be done by your regular healthcare provider using local anaesthetic to numb the area.

Local anaesthesia