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A lipoma is a soft fatty lump under the skin that appears due to an overgrowth of fat cells. It is considered as benign (noncancerous). It tends to appear on the shoulders, trunk, chest, neck, armpits, and thighs.
A lipoma is usually harmless and does not usually need treatment. However, you can consider getting a lipoma removal if your lipoma:
Becomes painful and causes discomfort
Is large or growing rapidly
Interferes with your body’s normal functions
Makes you feel self-conscious about your looks
Changes the way your clothes fit.
Lipoma removal involves surgically removing the lipoma. The procedure is also called excision. It is considered as the only treatment that can completely remove a lipoma. The technique used in lipoma removal depends on the size of the lipoma.
Before the actual surgery, your surgeon usually draws an outline of the lipoma and a planned skin excision using a marker on your skin surface. The outline of the lipoma can help your surgeon indicate the exact position of the lipoma’s margins. Then, your surgeon will cleanse your skin with povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine and will make sure to avoid wiping away the markings.
After your skin is cleansed, your doctor will administer local anesthesia to numb the area. In some cases, larger lipomas or those that are deep may require general anesthesia or regional anesthesia. General anesthesia puts you to sleep, while regional anesthesia numbs a large area around the lipoma.
For small lipomas, your surgeon will make small incisions (around 3 mm to 4 mm in size) over the lipoma. Then, the lipoma is separated from the surrounding tissues using a curette. Once the lipoma is separated, it is then removed through the incision using the curette. The incision may be closed with stitches, but if stitches are not used a pressure dressing is applied instead.
For larger lipomas, a more significant incision is created in the skin overlying the lipoma. The lipoma is separated from the surrounding tissue a scalpel or scissors. The lipoma can be removed as a single mass or in segments. Your surgeon may close the incision using stitches.
Lipoma removal is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning you can leave the hospital on the same day. However, plan to stay in Austria for about 5 to 7 days, especially if stitches are involved. In some cases, your medical team may schedule a follow-up checkup to check your condition and to remove the stitches.
The recovery time until you can resume most of your daily activities will depend on the size and location of your lipoma. Most patients can go back to work and resume some light activities after 5-7 days. However, strenuous activities must be avoided for a month. These include swimming, heavy lifting, playing golf, digging the garden, etc. Therefore, if your job is physically demanding, it is best that you take a month off.
Your medical team will give you special instructions that you need to follow. In general, the instructions may include:
Try to move around to help reduce stiffness for the first 24 hours following your lipoma removal.
You may shower, but make sure to avoid bathtubs and swimming pools because you need to avoid soaking the incision until it is healed.
Wear loose-fitting clothing for the first few days.
Light exercise and walking during your recovery period is good.
Eat a well-balanced and healthy diet, including plenty of vegetables, fruit, and brown bread to avoid constipation.
If your doctor prescribes medications, make sure to take it as prescribed.
Check your incisions every day for signs and symptoms of infection, such as increased swelling, increased redness, foul-smelling drainage, red or hot incision, and a fever over 38°C for 2 readings taken 4 hours apart. Make sure to call your doctor if any of these symptoms occur.
Lipoma removal is considered a very safe and effective procedure. A recurrence after surgical removal is uncommon. Still, all medical procedures carry some potential risks, including infection, bleeding, scarring, and hematoma. You can reduce these risks by following all the instructions your surgeon will give you and by choosing an experienced and skilled surgeon.
If you cannot or do not want to undergo surgical lipoma removal, you can consider the following treatments as the alternatives:
Liposuction – during this procedure an incision is made into the lump to insert a thin, hollow tube. This tube is used to suck the mass of fatty tissue from the lipoma.
Steroids – this is a type of drug that can help shrink the lipoma.
Before lipoma removal, you may have a lipoma that causes pain, discomfort, interferes with your body’s function, or that makes you feel unconfident because of its appearance. After the procedure, all of these concerns should be addressed. You will not feel the pain and discomfort you felt before, your body can function normally again, and you can regain your confidence.
Whilst the information presented here has been accurately sourced and verified by a medical professional for its accuracy, it is still advised to consult with your doctor before pursuing a medical treatment at one of the listed medical providers
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Austria is a mountainous landlocked country in south-central Europe. Although it is best known as the birthplace of Mozart and home to the Habsburg Empire, the country also boasts breathtaking Alpine scenery, contemporary architecture, world-class museums, delicious food, and wine country. Austria is also known to have one of the best healthcare systems in the world, making it a popular destination for international medical tourists. Many people, particularly from other European countries and Asia, come to Austria to receive medical care in one of its many internationally acclaimed medical centers, two of which are accredited by JCI. These medical centers feature cutting-edge technology and first-class facilities.
Austria’s capital city, Vienna, is rich with remarkable Habsburg sights, such as Schönbrunn Palace and Lipizzaner stallions. It is also home to the Mozart Museum, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Naschmarkt, and Bulverde Palace where visitors can see an incredible art collection with works by Van Gogh, Monet, and Renoir. Salzburg is another popular city in the country. This city is frequented by fans of Mozart and the “Sound of Music.” It also boasts beautiful Baroque churches, a dramatic castle, and a stunning old town full of winding lanes. Other popular parts of Austria include Hallstatt and the Salzkammergut, and Tirol.
June to August is summer in Austria with warm days and cool nights and an average temperature of around 18 - 19°C. Summer mornings are usually sunny, but thunderstorms can sometimes break out in the afternoon. Winter in Austria, from November to March, can be very cold as the temperatures plummet to an average of -1 to 5°C. Spring and autumn are generally nice and incredibly beautiful.
There are 6 international airports in Austria, but the main airport where most tourists arrive at is Vienna International Airport. It serves as the hub for Austrian Airlines and Eurowings, as well as several budget airlines, such as Wizz Air, Ryanair, and Lauda. This airport connects Austria with many cities in other European countries, North America, Africa, and Asia. Getting around Austria is fairly easy since it's public transport system is fast, efficient, and reaches even remote regions. Internal flights are available, but given the size of the country, it is rarely necessary. The country’s national railway system (ÖBB) is integrated with the Postbus services. Cheaper bust options, such as the Flexibus, are available as well. Inside major cities, an extensive system of light rail, metro, bus, and tramway services are available. Taxis are reliable and relatively affordable.
Since Austria is a part of the Schengen Area, nationals of EU/EEA do not need a visa to enter the country regardless of the purpose of their travel. Citizens of about 62 countries are exempt from a visa to travel to Austria, including the US, Canada, Australia, and South Korea. Unless you are a citizen of these 62 countries, you will need a visa to visit Austria.