Outpatient Minor Surgery
Lipomas, sebaceous cysts, and other soft tissue masses are usually benign, but their removal is simple, quick, and in many cases performed right in the office.
These soft tissue masses usually grow slowly and are generally benign, but it’s worth having a specialist evaluate them:
Not every lipoma or cyst requires immediate surgery, but removal is recommended when it grows noticeably, causes discomfort or pain, becomes recurrently infected, raises cosmetic concerns, or when there is diagnostic uncertainty requiring pathology analysis to rule out other conditions. The consultation includes a clinical evaluation to determine the best timing and approach.
Most of these procedures are outpatient and short in duration, often performed with local anesthesia right in the office, with no need for hospitalization.
Outpatient procedure: Most of these cases are resolved in the office in under an hour, with no need for hospitalization or extended time off.
Recovery is usually quick — most patients resume normal activities in 1 to 3 days, with simple wound care. The final scar depends on the size and location of the mass, but is always minimized as much as possible. Most people return to their usual activity the next day, and to work involving physical effort or heavy sweating in one to two weeks, depending on where the lesion was. Stitches are removed between seven and fourteen days, depending on the area. Like any procedure it carries risks worth knowing beforehand: wound infection, bleeding or a collection of blood under the skin, the wound opening, and a scar whose final appearance depends on the area and on how each person heals, including the possibility of a thick or keloid scar in those prone to them. In lesions with a capsule, such as a sebaceous cyst, it can come back if a fragment is left behind, particularly if it was removed while infected. Depending on the area, there can be altered sensation around the scar, which usually improves over the months. Every lesion removed is sent for pathology; that result is reviewed with you even when the appearance was clearly benign. This is not a complete list: what applies to you is reviewed before you sign the consent form, together with the warning signs that should make you call.
In most cases, no — the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, often in the office with local anesthesia.
Every removal leaves a scar; what changes is where it sits and how each person heals. The incision is planned along the natural lines of the skin so it is as inconspicuous as possible, and you are told what to expect for your area. Most people return to their usual activity the next day, and to work with physical effort or heavy sweating in one to two weeks.
The vast majority of lipomas are completely benign. In cases of doubt, the sample can be sent to pathology to confirm the diagnosis with certainty.
It’s uncommon if fully removed, though in some cases new masses can form in other areas of the body over time.
The incision is made as small as possible based on the size of the mass, minimizing the resulting scar.
Yes, major medical insurance is accepted in addition to self-pay.
Book your consultation for a clear evaluation and, if needed, a simple resolution.
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