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Lipoma and skin lesion surgery
Lipoma
Lipoma and skin lesion are very common problems that can be diagnosed by your GP, dermatologist or a therapist.
A lipoma is a round or oval-shaped lump of tissue that grows just beneath the skin. Usually it is soft and moves easily when you touch it. You can find lipomas anywhere on the body but most commonly it appears on the back, trunk, arms, shoulders and neck.
In most cases lipoma is painless and does not have any symptoms. In rare cases it can cause some pain, mostly when it is growing too fast. Lipoma is harmless but in rare cases can be a sign of something more serious.
An ultrasound scan is usually done to diagnose lipoma. Sometimes an additional diagnostics required such as CT or MRI scan. Lipoma surgery is usually done for cosmetic reason to remove lipoma from the body, which can help some people to boost their self-esteem.
Skin lesion
Skin lesion is an area of the skin that looks different from the surrounding area or has an abnormal growth. There are many conditions that can cause skin lesion but the most common reason is skin infection. Skin lesion can be cause by both internal and external factor, and sometimes can be a sign of something more serious.
If you have any skin lesion symptoms it is advised to see a doctor to perform an examination and to understand the root cause of the problem. To confirm a diagnosis, a dermatologist can do biopsy, skin samples or swab from the lesion. For more complicated cases, your doctor may do a foto finder procedure which uses artificial intelligence to map your skin areas and make a decision about suspicions areas of your skin that needs additional diagnostics.
Skin lesion treatments depends on your personal situation and the underlying root cause of the problem. Your treatment may start with topical medication to reduce symptoms. Sometimes surgical treatment is required to treat affected area or to remove suspicious lesion such as moles.
Who is it suitable for
✔ Patients diagnosed with a lipoma or skin lesion
✔ Patients experiencing symptoms such as local pain or skin changes
✔ People seeking cosmetic improvements
✔ Patients diagnosed with skin lesion and potential cancer indication
Treatment duration
✔ It is usually a quick procedure that takes about 30 minutes but can take longer
✔ In most cases this is performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning that patients can go home same day
Recovery
✔ The healing process largely depends on a number of factors such as surgery type, the root cause of the problem and the overall health of a patient
✔ Depending on the personal situation, recovery can last from just a few days to couple of weeks or more
✔ You may need to wear bandage after the surgery
✔ Swelling and bruising after surgery is common but should resolve in few weeks time
Before The Treatment
Before scheduling the treatment, you will need to meet with a doctor to discuss your treatment objectives and perform an examination:
• Goals and expectations - Prepare to discuss you goals and your expectations. Your doctor should explain you different types of methods, potential risks, recovery and expected outcomes.
• Medical history - You should provide a complete medical history including your past and current medical conditions, and medications that you are taking.
• Examination - Your doctor is going to perform physical examination to determine the best treatment approach for you. You may need to do an ultrasound scanning to diagnose the problem. In case of of skin lesion, your doctor may do dermatoscopy and skin mapping.
• Diagnostics, tests and additional examination - Be prepared to undertake additional examination, diagnostics, a specialist consultation and blood tests if your surgeon requests before preceding with this treatment. Additional examination can include CT or MRI scanning.
You will be advised by your doctor how to prepare for the procedure which may include dietary and medication requirements.
What does it involve?
There are different types of skin surgery, but generally the following is involved:
• This procedure is generally performed under local anaesthetic.
• The procedure will start with making incisions in the area where lipoma or skin lesion is formed.
• Depending on the surgery type and the problem treated, affected skin is usually pierced and drained, any suspicious skin growths are removed.
• Drain tubes may be placed through the incision to drain any excess fluid and blood.
• At the end, sutures are applied to close the incisions.
• A bandage may be applied to reduce swelling and bruising.
Both lipoma and skin lesion surgeries are quick and usually take about 30 minutes but sometimes can take longer.
After the treatment
Your recovery and how quickly you can return to work largely depends on your treatment type and complexity of the operation. For more complex operations, you may need to take at least 2 weeks time-off for your recovery. After operation it is common to experience some discomfort and:
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Scars
• Inflammation
You may need to wear bandage for couple of months after the treatment. You may need to take antibiotics after the operation to reduce the risk of infection. Bruising and swelling normally is visible for 2 weeks.
Risks
As a small surgery lipoma and skin lession surgery carries risks such as:
• Scarring
• Hematoma
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Bruising
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