Lipoma Removal: What to Expect

If you’ve been living with a lipoma and finally decided to have it removed — or you’re weighing whether removal is right for you — it helps to know exactly what the process looks like. Lipoma excision is one of the most routine procedures Dr. Ash performs, and for most patients, it’s far less involved than they expected.

Step One: The Consultation

Before anything else, you’ll come in for a consultation. Dr. Ash will examine the lipoma, review your medical history, and confirm the diagnosis. This is also a good time to ask questions about the procedure, discuss what recovery looks like, and make sure you’re a good candidate for in-office removal.

Most lipomas can be removed in-office under local anesthesia. Larger lipomas or those in more complex locations may require a different setting or approach — Dr. Ash will let you know if that’s the case.

What “In-Office Under Local Anesthesia” Actually Means

You’ll be awake for the procedure, but the area will be completely numbed beforehand. Dr. Ash uses a local anesthetic injection — similar to what you’d get at the dentist — to numb the skin and tissue around the lipoma. Most patients feel the initial injection, which takes only a few seconds, and then nothing meaningful after that.

You don’t need to fast. You don’t need a driver (unless you want one). You can go right back to your day when it’s done.

The Procedure Itself

Once the area is numb, Dr. Ash makes a small incision directly over the lipoma. She then carefully removes the lipoma along with its surrounding capsule — this is important, because removing the capsule reduces the chance of the lipoma coming back in that spot.

Depending on the size and location of the lipoma, the procedure typically takes between 20 and 45 minutes. The incision is closed with sutures, and you’ll receive wound care instructions before you leave.

What Recovery Looks Like

Most patients are surprised by how manageable the recovery is.

Day of procedure: Some mild soreness as the anesthetic wears off. Over-the-counter pain reliever is usually all that’s needed.

Days 1–3: The area may be tender, slightly swollen, or bruised. This is normal and typically resolves quickly.

Week 1–2: Most patients return to normal activities within a day or two. You’ll come back to have the sutures removed, usually 7–14 days after the procedure.

Scarring: There will be a small scar at the incision site. It typically fades significantly over the following months. Dr. Ash closes incisions carefully to minimize scarring, and she’ll give you guidance on scar care after the sutures come out.

Will It Come Back?

When the lipoma and its capsule are fully removed, recurrence at the same site is uncommon. Some patients develop new lipomas elsewhere over time — especially those with a genetic tendency toward them — but that’s separate from the removed one returning.