A lipoma or wen is a natural formation on the human body in the form of a small lump or lump. It occurs in the place where adipose tissue is present - on the head, neck, forehead, arms, back.
Removal of lipomas is carried out in different ways - from simple ones, using a surgical scalpel, to modern ones, using expensive laser or radio wave equipment.
The owners of lipomas are often women over 40 years old and less often men. These subcutaneous formations do not pose any danger to humans if you contact a surgeon in time and remove them correctly. The main thing is to remember that a benign formation can develop into a dangerous tumor, which will create serious problems if it is not removed in time.
Causes of lipoma formation
Currently, researchers have not been able to come to a clear conclusion about the reason why lipomas form. Among the most likely causes of the appearance of wen are malfunctions of the thyroid gland, poor-quality nutrition, which provokes the accumulation of toxins in adipose tissue, genetic predisposition, hormonal imbalances, problems in the functioning of the liver and gall bladder.
As a rule, wen do not degenerate into malignant formations. However, the problem is that although lipomas do not grow into neighboring tissues, they compress them when they grow in size. This provokes metabolic disorders and can cause pain. In addition, malignant tumors, such as liposarcoma, are often “masked” as lipomas. Therefore, in some cases, it is better to remove lipomas.
Thus, the reason for contacting a doctor should be an increase in the size of the formation or its shape, as well as the appearance of any physical discomfort associated with the lipoma. Causes for alarm are redness of the skin over the formation, itching or peeling.
According to doctors, it is necessary to remove fatty tissues located next to a cluster of blood vessels or nerve cells. In addition, formations located in areas of the skin that are exposed to frequent external influences should be cut out.
The principle of operation of the radio wave technique
The procedure is performed using a special device - a radio knife, which generates high-frequency radio waves. Under the influence of high-frequency waves, the skin is cut, and the wen along with the capsule is evaporated. In this case, radio waves act exclusively on damaged cells without affecting healthy surrounding tissues. This approach helps minimize lipoma regrowth and tissue scarring.
Simultaneously with the dissection of the skin, the bleeding immediately stops and the affected area is disinfected. Thanks to this, the wound heals quickly and without complications.
Lipoma removal methods
Today, there are several methods for removing wen. The decision on which method to use for surgical intervention is made in each specific case by the doctor after diagnosing the formation. It includes visual examination, palpation, ultrasound, CT or MRI, and biopsy. Tumors are removed by conventional surgical excision, endoscopy, radioknife, or laser removal. Laser lipoma removal is considered one of the most effective and innovative methods.
Indications for radio wave removal of lipomas
As a rule, wen is removed for aesthetic reasons when the tumor is located on a visible part of the body and leads to psychological problems.
There are also a number of medical indications, in the presence of which the removal procedure becomes necessary. These include:
- rapid growth of wen;
- the lipoma reached 3–4 cm in diameter;
- when pressing on the tumor, painful sensations occur;
- the presence of a kind of “leg” in the wen;
- change in the shape and contours of the tumor.
For some diseases, the use of radio wave techniques is contraindicated, so the patient must undergo a preliminary examination before the procedure.
Pros and cons of laser removal
Laser lipoma removal is a method that is in high demand, despite the rather high cost of the procedure. The reason for this is that laser removal has an impressive list of undeniable advantages compared to other methods of combating fatty tissue. We list only the main ones.
- Thanks to the ability to adjust the equipment as accurately as possible, unnecessary damage to the tissues located next to the lipoma is eliminated.
- The laser itself coagulates the blood vessels, so the operation is virtually bloodless.
- The possibility of developing postoperative complications is practically excluded, since the laser beam has a bactericidal effect, disinfecting the surgical field.
- The non-contact nature of the method eliminates the possibility of wound infection by pathogenic organisms during surgery.
- After the operation there are no unaesthetic scars left.
- During surgery, the tumor is not completely destroyed, as a result of which histological analysis can be performed.
- The number of relapses with laser removal is negligible, since this method allows you to remove the lipoma along with the capsule.
- After the intervention, the patient recovers completely within one to two weeks.
However, like any surgical intervention, laser lipoma removal also has some negative characteristics. If the tumor is very large, the laser beam may accidentally affect nearby vessels and nerves. If the tumor is very tiny, then the laser simply destroys it, leaving no material for histological analysis.
Laser removal is not used if the wen is located very deep in the tissues. In this case, only traditional surgical excision will be effective.
Finally, the financial aspect is of considerable importance. Laser removal is an extremely expensive operation, so not everyone can afford it.
Preparation stage
The lipoma removal operation is performed under anesthesia, since the patient still experiences minor pain. Regardless of the method of removal, the patient is scheduled for an examination 2 days in advance, where he must:
- donate blood and urine for general examination;
- do an ultrasound of the lipoma;
- donate blood to check for HIV, syphilis;
- be examined by a cardiologist;
- if the wen is located close to bone tissue, take an x-ray.
Lastly, after all of the above has been checked, the patient is examined for allergies to painkillers. If available, anesthesia is selected individually for each patient.
How is laser lipoma removal performed?
Laser excision of wen is usually performed by a general surgeon. The procedure can also be performed by an oncologist or plastic surgeon. Before the procedure, the patient must undergo all necessary tests and undergo an ultrasound. In some cases, a biopsy of the formation is performed to determine its structure. If the lipoma is located on the scalp, the required area is shaved.
Laser removal of fatty tissues is performed under local anesthesia. Lidocaine injections are used as an anesthetic. The lipoma removal procedure itself lasts from half an hour to forty minutes, depending on where exactly the tumor is located and what size it is.
First, the doctor uses a laser beam to cut the skin over the wen and spread the edges of the incision to allow wider access. Through this incision, the wen capsule is captured with a clamp. The surgeon pulls it up and uses a laser to remove the lipoma from the surrounding tissue, and then finally cleans out the location of the lipoma. If the neoplasm is small, the wound is not sutured - it is simply covered with a sterile bandage. If the wen was large, a cosmetic suture is applied to the wound. One of the advantages of laser surgery is that the beam of the device promotes tissue regeneration, as a result of which a postoperative scar does not form.
In most cases, the patient can return to normal life almost immediately after surgery. In particularly difficult cases, several days of bed rest may be necessary.
After removal of the wen, the tumor tissue is recommended to be sent for histological examination to definitively exclude the presence of malignant cells.
Rehabilitation period
The postoperative period in this case will directly depend on how the operation was performed. The laser method has a short recovery period - 5 days, while the open surgical method - 14 days.
After surgery, in order to avoid undesirable consequences, the wound is treated with disinfectants. It is advisable to change the bandage on the wound daily. In addition, you need to establish proper nutrition, since any surgery requires energy and nutrients.
The laser method is popular and widespread, requiring the use of expensive equipment that is not available in all clinics. However, it is more reliable and effective compared to other surgical methods.
In Moscow, prices for lipoma removal surgery vary depending on the method of operation. The most affordable price is from 500 rubles for surgical removal, laser is a little more expensive - from 550, radio wave - from 1000 rubles.
How to behave after laser lipoma removal
The question of how to behave after laser removal of a wen worries many patients. Let us hasten to reassure them - getting rid of lipoma with a laser is considered the most gentle method. No complex additional manipulations are required after the procedure. In most cases, the patient returns home immediately after removal of the wen.
If there is pain or discomfort at the extraction site, your doctor may prescribe pain medications. During the first few days after surgery, a slight increase in temperature is possible, which does not require taking any additional medications.
Vacuum aspiration – removal of lipomas without cuts and stitches – the most advanced technology
An effective high-tech method for removing both single and multiple subcutaneous lipomas.
After preliminary anesthesia, through a minimal puncture of 4-6 mm in an inconspicuous place, a special cannula is inserted into the lipomatous node through the subcutaneous tissue, through which the lipomatous tissue and its capsule are removed using vacuum aspiration.
The capsule is removed entirely, as it is tightly fused to the lipomatous tissue.
If there are several nodes nearby, then they are all removed through one puncture.
Immediately after removal, ultrasound monitoring is performed to monitor possible remaining elements of the lipoma.
And if such are detected, they are immediately removed.
The edges of the puncture do not require sutures, because its length is no more than 5-6 mm.
Therefore, the operation is completed by applying an aseptic sticker.
The last stage is elastic compression of the operation area - special compression hosiery is put on. This promotes better skin contraction (tightening), an immobilization effect is achieved, which accelerates recovery processes.
After 24-36 hours you need to change the bandage; you can do this at home yourself.
Contraindications for laser fat removal
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There are relatively few contraindications for laser lipoma removal. First of all, such manipulations are not performed on people who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Laser removal is not recommended for pregnant and lactating women. It is also worth rescheduling the procedure if the patient has recently suffered from a cold or infectious disease.
Complications and consequences of the procedure
As a rule, laser removal of wen does not cause complications. Only in very rare cases, at the site of removal of large formations, a cavity may appear in which blood and serous fluid accumulate. To solve this problem, drainage is used.
To avoid negative consequences, the wound should not be wetted for a week. For a month you should avoid visiting the sauna and swimming pool, as well as sunbathing.
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Recommendations for wound care after radio wave removal of lipomas
After the procedure, a crust forms in the affected area, which protects the wound from viruses and bacteria. It is impossible to rip off and injure the resulting scab. This can cause not only wound infection, but also severe tissue scarring. After 5–7 days, the crust will fall off on its own.
To speed up the tissue healing process, after the procedure of radio wave removal of a lipoma, you must:
- exclude visiting the bathhouse, sauna and swimming pool;
- do not expose the crust to mechanical damage;
- do not wet the treatment area on the first day after manipulation;
- treat the area where the lipoma was with antiseptic drugs (as prescribed by the doctor).
If there is redness, swelling, suppuration, pain in the affected area or increased body temperature, you should immediately consult a doctor.
