What Is A Lipoma? Causes, Symptoms, And Whether It Needs To Be Removed

Finding a lump under your skin can be worrying, especially if you are not sure whether it is a lipoma, cyst, skin tag or something more serious.

A lipoma is a common, benign lump made up of fatty tissue. It usually grows slowly, feels soft or rubbery, and moves slightly under the skin when pressed. Most lipomas are harmless and do not need to be removed, but they should still be assessed if they are new, growing, painful, firm, deep, or causing concern.

At Hannah London, our medical and aesthetic services allow patients to seek professional advice for lumps, bumps and skin concerns in a clinical setting. This guide explains what a lipoma is, what causes it, how it differs from cysts and skin tags, and when removal may be appropriate.

What is a lipoma?

A lipoma is a non-cancerous lump made of fat cells. It usually forms just beneath the skin, in the layer of fatty tissue between the skin and muscle.

Lipomas can appear almost anywhere on the body, but they are commonly found on the:

Shoulders
Neck
Chest
Arms
Back
Abdomen
Buttocks
Thighs

Most lipomas are small, slow-growing, and painless. They often feel soft, smooth or rubbery. A typical lipoma can move slightly when you press it because it sits beneath the skin rather than being fixed to deeper tissue.

Although the word “lump” can sound alarming, lipomas are usually benign. However, not every lump is a lipoma, which is why professional assessment matters.

What does a lipoma feel like?

A typical lipoma may feel:

Soft or rubbery
Smooth rather than rough
Moveable under the skin
Painless
Slow-growing
Round or oval-shaped
Located beneath the skin rather than on top of it

Lipomas are usually not red, hot or inflamed. They do not usually have a visible opening in the skin and they are not normally attached to the surface like a skin tag.

Some lipomas can become uncomfortable if they press on nearby nerves, sit in an awkward area, or catch against clothing, straps or waistbands.

What causes lipomas?

The exact cause of lipomas is not always clear. They are made up of fat cells, but they are not simply caused by being overweight and they do not usually go away with weight loss.

Some people are more prone to developing lipomas than others. They may run in families and are more common in adults, particularly during middle age.

Possible factors linked with lipomas include:

Family tendency
Age
Minor injury to an area, although this link is not always clear
Certain rare inherited conditions
Individual differences in how fatty tissue grows

Most people who develop a lipoma have no obvious underlying condition. They may have one lipoma or several.

Are lipomas dangerous?

Most lipomas are not dangerous. They are benign, which means they are not cancerous.

However, the key point is that a lump should not be assumed to be a lipoma without assessment. Other types of lumps can feel similar, including cysts, swollen lymph nodes, abscesses, hernias, enlarged glands or, rarely, soft tissue tumours.

You should arrange a medical review if a lump is:

Getting bigger
More than approximately 5cm across
Painful or tender
Hard or fixed in place
Deep under the skin
Growing quickly
Changing in shape or texture
Red, hot or inflamed
Bleeding or breaking through the skin
Returning after previous removal
Causing numbness, tingling or reduced movement
Appearing in an area previously treated with radiotherapy

These signs do not mean the lump is cancer, but they do mean it should be checked properly.

Can a lipoma turn into cancer?

A simple lipoma does not usually turn into cancer. Lipomas are benign growths of fat cells.

There is a rare type of cancer called liposarcoma, which can develop in fatty tissue. Liposarcoma is not the same as a standard lipoma, but it is one reason why new, changing, deep, painful or rapidly growing lumps should be assessed.

If there is any doubt, your clinician may recommend further investigation, such as ultrasound, MRI or referral to a specialist.

Lipoma vs cyst: what is the difference?

Lipomas and cysts are both common lumps, but they are different.

A lipoma is made of fatty tissue and usually sits beneath the skin. It often feels soft, smooth, and moveable.

A cyst is a sac-like lump that may contain fluid, keratin or other material. Epidermoid cysts often sit closer to the skin surface and may have a small central opening, sometimes called a punctum. They can become red, inflamed, infected or tender.

Quick comparison

A lipoma is usually soft, rubbery and fatty.

A cyst may feel firmer and may have a visible opening.

A lipoma usually grows slowly under the skin.

A cyst may become inflamed, painful or infected.

A lipoma does not usually drain fluid.

A cyst may discharge thick or unpleasant-smelling material if inflamed or ruptured.

A medical assessment can help confirm whether a lump is a lipoma, cyst or another type of lesion.

Lipoma vs skin tag: how can you tell?

Lipomas and skin tags are also often confused, but they look and feel very different.

A skin tag is a small, soft, skin-coloured growth that sits on the surface of the skin. It may hang from a thin stalk and is often found in areas of friction, such as the neck, underarms, eyelids, groin or under the breasts.

A lipoma is a lump under the skin. It does not usually hang from the surface and is often larger and deeper than a skin tag.

Quick comparison

A skin tag sits on the surface of the skin.

A lipoma sits underneath the skin.

A skin tag may hang from a stalk.

A lipoma feels like a soft lump beneath the skin.

A skin tag is usually very small.

A lipoma may range from pea-sized to several centimetres.

At Hannah London, suitable skin tags may be reviewed for plasma skin lesion removal. If your lump is under the skin rather than on the skin, it may need a medical assessment rather than a skin tag removal appointment.

Lipoma vs wart: what is the difference?

Warts are caused by a virus and usually appear as rough, raised growths on the skin surface. They are more common on the hands, fingers, knees and feet, although they can appear elsewhere.

A lipoma is not viral, not contagious and not rough on the surface. It is a soft tissue lump beneath the skin.

If a growth is textured, crusted or rough, it may be a wart, seborrhoeic keratosis or another skin lesion rather than a lipoma.

How is a lipoma diagnosed?

A clinician can often assess a suspected lipoma by examining the lump and asking questions about your symptoms.

They may ask:

When did you first notice it?
Has it changed in size?
Is it painful?
Does it move under the skin?
Has it become red, hot or inflamed?
Have you had a similar lump before?
Is there a family history of lipomas?
Has it returned after previous removal?
Is it affecting movement, comfort or confidence?

In many cases, examination is enough to identify a likely benign lipoma. If the diagnosis is uncertain, or if the lump has concerning features, imaging may be recommended.

Do you need a scan for a lipoma?

Not every suspected lipoma needs a scan. Many are diagnosed clinically.

However, a scan may be recommended if the lump is large, deep, growing, painful, difficult to examine, fixed in place or not clearly a lipoma. Ultrasound is often used as a first imaging test for soft tissue lumps. MRI may be considered in more complex cases or if deeper tissue needs to be assessed.

At Hannah London, private GP consultations can help determine whether a lump needs monitoring, imaging or referral.

Do lipomas need to be removed?

Most lipomas do not need to be removed if they are small, harmless and not causing symptoms.

Removal may be considered if:

The diagnosis is uncertain
The lump is growing
It is painful or uncomfortable
It catches on clothing
It affects movement
It presses on nearby structures
It causes cosmetic concern
It affects confidence
It is in a visible area
Your clinician recommends further testing

For many people, lipoma removal is a personal decision. Some choose removal for comfort. Others choose it because the lump is visible or affects how they feel in certain clothing.

Can you remove a lipoma at home?

No. You should not try to remove a lipoma at home.

A lipoma sits under the skin, which means removal involves more than treating the surface. Cutting, squeezing, piercing or using online removal products can cause bleeding, infection, scarring and incomplete removal. It may also delay proper diagnosis if the lump is not actually a lipoma.

Any lump beneath the skin should be assessed by a qualified medical professional before treatment.

How are lipomas removed?

Lipomas are usually removed through a minor surgical procedure. The skin is cleaned and numbed with local anaesthetic. A small incision is made over the lump, the lipoma is carefully removed, and the wound is closed with stitches.

The removed tissue may be sent to a laboratory for confirmation, especially if there is any uncertainty about the diagnosis.

Treatment details can vary depending on the size, location and depth of the lipoma. Larger or deeper lipomas may require referral to a specialist.

What happens if you leave a lipoma alone?

If a lipoma is confirmed as benign and it is not causing symptoms, leaving it alone is often perfectly reasonable.

You may be advised to monitor it and return for review if it grows, becomes painful, changes texture or starts affecting movement or comfort.

Taking a photo and noting the size can help you track changes. However, if you are worried, it is better to book a medical review than to keep checking it repeatedly at home.

When should you see a GP about a lump?

You should see a GP or qualified medical professional if you notice a new lump, especially if it is growing, painful, firm, fixed, deep or larger than expected.

You should also seek medical advice if the lump:

Appears suddenly
Changes quickly
Feels hard
Does not move under the skin
Is more than 5cm across
Comes back after previous removal
Causes numbness or tingling
Affects movement
Becomes red, hot or swollen
Is associated with unexplained weight loss or feeling generally unwell

Most lumps are not serious, but a proper assessment helps identify what it is and what, if anything, should happen next.

Private GP assessment for lumps and bumps at Hannah London

If you are unsure whether a lump is a lipoma, cyst, skin tag or another type of lesion, Hannah London’s private GP service can help you take the next step.

A medical consultation can assess the lump, discuss your symptoms, review your medical history and advise whether monitoring, imaging, referral or removal may be appropriate.

Hannah London also offers access to diagnostic pathways, including referral for ultrasound, MRI and other scans where clinically indicated.

This is particularly helpful if you want clarity quickly, are worried about a lump, or would like medical guidance before considering cosmetic or private removal options.