The presence of a lump of fat on the neck is a reason for frequent medical consultation; you should not be alarmed if you have one of them. This kind of lump is called Lipoma, and it is a benign tumor made up of mainly fat cells that form under the skin.
The lumps of fat in the neck grow slowly, and the most prominent symptom that could be experienced is the discomfort in this area, except in rare cases in which respiratory distress occurs. Most people who have Lipoma on the neck wonder how they can remove it and should know that there are several ways to do it. In this FastlyHealarticle, we explain everything about Lipoma on the neck: causes, symptoms, and how to remove it with effective treatments.
Table of Contents
Causes of Lipoma on the neck
Lipomas can appear on various body parts but are most common on the shoulders, back, and neck. Its size can be variable since it can range from a relatively small size to a considerable measure for its removal.
Lipomas are soft to the touch (if the consistency is hard, it could be in the presence of a cyst), they have a rounded shape, are not attached to deep parts of the skin, and can move when touched without causing pain.
The exact causes of Lipoma are unknown, but several risk factors can increase the chances of it appearing, such as:
- Hereditary factors, that is, having a direct relative who has suffered from Lipoma, can increase the probability of suffering from these fat lumps.
- Obesity or being overweight.
- I had a history of liver disease.
- I am having problems controlling blood glucose.
- Lipomas tend to be more likely to develop in the female sex due to the hormonal changes that the female body undergoes in some stages, such as perimenopause.
Lipomas have an incidence of one per thousand people. Generally, they occur between 40 and 60 years of age, according to the Chilean Journal of Dermatology, the epidemiological characterization of subcutaneous lipomas [1].
Symptoms of Lipoma on the neck
These fatty lumps on the neck tend to be painless and grow slowly. They are commonly located on the lateral part of the neck, and the most significant symptom is compression of the structures in the neck area. In rare cases, difficulty breathing may appear; if this occurs, that is when the specialist doctor indicates surgical removal to avoid complications due to the permanence of the Lipoma in the neck.
As soon as you notice a slight variation in the typical structure of the neck, it would help if you went to the specialist to rule out that there is some other process, such as a swollen ganglion or a cyst.
The doctor will likely perform an ultrasound, a blood test, and later a biopsy of the lipoma or fat lump tissue.
How to remove a lipoma on the neck
What is the correct way to remove lipoma on the neck? Specialists will recommend a specific method depending on the characteristics of the injury and the patient:
- The first way to remove lipoma on the neck is through liposuction. It is done through a syringe with a needle to remove the fat lump. This is considered how lipomas of different sizes can be removed and avoid scars; however, it is difficult for the Lipoma to disappear entirely with this technique.
- Another technique is by applying steroid injections. This allows the fat area or lump to atrophy and significantly decrease size. It is performed primarily on fat lumps less than 2.5 cm in size through several sessions per month.
- Finally, another way to remove fat lumps on the neck is through surgical removal, a reasonably simple procedure performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. This method can bring side effects after the formation of the scar and bruising, but there is rarely a reappearance of the fat lump or Lipoma. The duration of the intervention is approximately 30 or 60 minutes, depending on the severity of the case.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.