Is it possible to get rid of, or reduce a lipoma yourself?

[diydivadoit]

Anybody know any old wives tales or methods for removing a fatty lipoma, medium sized on top of leg? It's getting bigger and bigger and I'm getting really self consious about it.
I know the NHS won't do it and I can't afford to pay a £1000 to have it removed privately!

I'm tempted to stick a pin in it and see what happens sterilised of course [shame]

[Frenchfemme]

Not much help (sorry) but I had one on the top of my thigh for a few years, and realised a couple of months ago that it had disappeared of its own accord. As it is getting bigger, I assume you have consulted a doctor to reassure yourself its nothing to worry about?

[diydivadoit]

I don't think it's anything sinister, I've had it a couple of years, but the last month or so it's gotten bigger.
I just want rid of it.

(I also had one that disappeared on it's own, but this one is in for the long haul)

[TheMaddHugger]

Sorry, no. i have them too.

A pin wont do anything. its a fatty lump. Not a zit or boil

[Kundry]

No.Absolutely zilch will happen if you stick a pin in it, except that it will hurt. The whole thing needs excising.

If it's getting bigger you should have it checked.

[diydivadoit]

I might go to the docs to check for sure whether it's a cyst or lipoma.
I'm hoping it's a cyst, then I can do a DIY op. Lipoma - not so easy.

(things the NHS has reduced us to) those that have no money

[Nillia]

Have you put on weight recently OP.

[Wowthishurtsalot]

My dad gets these - no sooner do they cut them out then another appears somewhere else.

He has his removed on the NHS. He's given up getting them removed now but at one point had 4 removed from one arm at once.

[dragonflyinthelillies]

I'm afraid the only way you can remove a lipoma is with a scapel and stitches, its certainly not a home diy job!

[diydivadoit]

Have you put on weight recently OP.

No Nillia.
Crazily, if I were to go home and stuff myself silly with food for the next couple of years, I'm sure they would happily fork out £8000 or more for me to have bariatric surgery.
The NHS system is crazy.

[yellowdinosauragain]

You can get a lipoma or a cyst excised on the nhs. And if a lipoma is getting bigger it should be excised, or at least biopsied as very occasionally they can turn into liposarcomas, a cancerous lump. This is rare so don't get too worried, and they can increase in size anyway but get it checked... (I'm a surgeon)

[MisForMumNotMaid]

If you're really self concious and its effecting you then don't you qualify to get it done on the NHS?

[diydivadoit]

What about liposuction?

I know it would probably come back, but it would be flat for a while.
Liposuction has to be cheaper as well?
Or would a cortisone injection reduce it?

Is there a Doctor in the House?

[yellowdinosauragain]

And no idea where you've got it from that the nhs wouldn't remove this. I can only presume you've never seen anyone about it as is a pretty common procedure.

[Kundry]

You can't do a DIY op on a cyst, don't be fooled by the youtube videos popping them. They whole case of the cyst needs to be excised or they just come straight back again.

And many GPs still do minor ops for things like this.

[diydivadoit]

You can get a lipoma or a cyst excised on the nhs. And if a lipoma is getting bigger it should be excised, or at least biopsied as very occasionally they can turn into liposarcomas, a cancerous lump. This is rare so don't get too worried, and they can increase in size anyway but get it checked... (I'm a surgeon)

thanks yellow.
I will make an appointment at GP - It won't hurt to ask.

[diydivadoit]

Every NHS site I've been on says that a fatty lipoma is a 'cosmetic procedure' and not generally done on the NHS

[Kundry]

There are at least 2 doctors on this thread advising you to a) see you GP, b) don't try anything yourself and c) NHS treatment is a possibility especially if it is growing. As well as others saying they have had theris removed on the NHS. FWIW I am a doctor and have had minor lumps removed on the NHS.

Liposuction, cortisone injections and stabbing it with a pin are all the wrong treatments.

Go and see your GP about it.

[diydivadoit]

If you're really self concious and its effecting you then don't you qualify to get it done on the NHS?

If it were on my face, I would have more of an argument, but this is right at the top of my outer thigh (actually right on top of my hip bone)

[diydivadoit]

Thanks for the advice.
I will leave the pin alone - and youtube! I'm too squeamish anyway.
And I will definitely make an appointment to see my GP.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Thanks again

[ChelsyHandy]

I would get it checked out. I am no doctor, but I had one on my hand that kept getting bigger. GP was strangely unconcerned and told me it was "just a cyst or a fatty lump". One day a piece of wood (far bigger than a skelf), followed by a lot of pus, erupted out of it. Hope you get a more concerned GP. I felt glad to avoid blood poisoning.

[DaisyFlowerChain]

Ask your Doctor. A friend recently had one removed that was not on show, no stitches needed and in and out of the doctors in about ten minutes.

[InVinoHumiliatas]

I have one at the top of my spine. It really annoys me as it aches sometimes, due to pulling the muscles out of shape, I think.

Is yours diffuse or intact? Doctors won't remove mine because it is diffuse and they say it will just grow back.

[Sallystyle]

I am smothered in them. I mean smothers, GP can't even count them and they hurt when touched and itch when new ones come up.

There is not a part of my body now that isn't covered in them.

The NHS won't remove mine because I have too many. Doesn't matter how they make me feel, how much the hurt, how much it interferes with my life, they won't touch me as I would just be one huge scar. They won't even touch the extra big ones on my ribs which really hurt when I lay on my side.

[AwkwardSquad]

U2, that sounds awful. You should have some choice about having ones that really affect you being removed. That response is far too black and white.

OP, I had a large lipoma removed on the NHS because it was causing me discomfort but also because it was growing unusually fast. I had an MRI, then the op, then they tested the lump even though all along they had been pretty sure it was benign (it was).

If it's on your hip I would imagine that it will start rubbing, if it isn't already. Go back to your GP?

[diydivadoit]

Sorry to hear it U2. It must be difficult to cope with that many.. I feel for you

Awkwardsquad, the one I have does rub a bit, but it's not painful.
(because of where it is, I've wondered whether it could also be a bulging vein, that could burst)
Aren't there lots of arteries and veins round that area?

Another good reason for getting it checked. I've always assumed it's a lipoma, but I'm not 100% sure.
And another good reason NOT to stick a pin it it!

It seems as if these lipomas affect a lot of people.
I wonder what causes it?