Lipoma

[MrsHaloFIRE]

I would prob have it done. Anesthesia doesn't get easier as you get older and i think lipomas grow. Ive had conscious sedation. Think "barely under." Propofol and benadryl or similar by IV. Same as they do fir colonscopies etc. I had an upper endoscopy. IV in the hand by far the worst part. Say night night. Close eyes. Wake-up to nurse giving me juice. Walking and talking within minutes. Dressed and home in about 45. Took a nap. Took a long walk to burn off any remaining anesthesia. No biggie. I would guess you would give dissolving stitches or glue. So maybe 10 days with vaseline and a bandage? Just postulating. But yes I would choose my surgeon, the location and the timing (first thing on the am is my prefetence).

 

[manwithlantern]

I had one on the inner forearm that got to be about half a golf ball size under the skin. When it started aching I was directed by PCP to a hand surgeon (apparently they do forearms too.) An MRI was done to see how the tumor was situated relative to nerves and blood vessels. Surgery was done with local sedation and took about 20 minutes. The surgeon asked if I wanted to see it after removal...looked like a big pink slug in the pan. Glad it was gone.

 

[pacergal]

Yes, I have had lipomas and had them removed. Simple procedure in drs office for mine.

OP--things to ask are related to "risks and benefits" of the surgery and anesthesia. The dr should go over them anyway, but it is good to ask.
It sounds like it is large enough to cause discomfort, which is the biggest reason to have it removed in my opinion. It will only grow bigger in time.

 

[chris2008]

DM had a big one on her arm for years.
Finally at the age of 87 she decided to have it removed as it grew and she could no longer hide it.
All went well but it took a long time for the skin to adapt. She should have done it much sooner.

 

[5Miler]

I had a lipoma removed from the back of my head about 10 years ago at age 57. Kaiser bounced me around a bit from my Primary Care to Dermatology and finally to the Surgical Center. The Surgical Center did it in about 45 minutes start to finish under local. They originally told me I could leave it but it was already bothersome so I insisted they remove it. Wasn't that big of a deal and I'm not one to like doctors at all. Had stitches removed about a week later and no problems since then.