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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 Cape Town 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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Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa and is also known as the Mother City. It is the oldest city in the country and home to the Parliament of South Africa and is a major destination for immigrants and expatriates, making it one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Located on the shore of Table Bay, the city is known for its harbor, natural setting, as well as famous attractions and many tourists, visit to enjoy Table Mountain and Cape Point.
Recently, tourists also come to the city for its medical tourism. Many groundbreaking procedures and medical research in South Africa, such as the world’s first penile transplant, have put Cape Town under the radar of medical tourists from all around the globe. Thanks to its world-class healthcare and world-renowned medical practitioners, more and more people now prefer Cape Town as their medical destination. The healthcare in the city is among the best on the African continent. Other reasons such as shorter waiting times for surgeries, state-of-the-art equipment, and affordable healthcare compared to Europe and the United States, and English-speaking doctors.
Cape Town is a natural beauty that offers a wide range of things to do and see. From culture, food, art, to nature. Listed below are some of the more popular places in the city:
Cape Town enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate. The summer is dry and warm, lasting from early December to March. The average maximum temperature during this season is around 26 °C, and the minimum is 16 °C. The Berg Wind that arrives from February to early March can make the city uncomfortably hot for a couple of weeks.
The winter starts in June and ends in August and the season is characterized by mild and wet weather. The city also experiences strong north-westerly winds during this season. The average temperature ranges between 8.5 °C at the lowest and 18 °C at the highest.
The primary airport that serves Cape Town is the Cape Town International Airport and it is the second busiest airport in South Africa and the fifth busiest in Africa. The airport serves direct domestic flights to major cities and several small centers in the country. It also connects the country with major cities in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. It is the hub for South African Express as well as budget airlines such as Mango and FlySafair.
There are several types of taxis: the metered taxis, Rikkis Taxis, and minibus taxis. The metered taxis can be a little expensive but are usually comfortable. Tourists can order one via a phone call or from one of the city’s official taxi stands. Tourists should always choose reputable taxi companies such as Marine Taxi, Unicab, Excite, and SA Cab.
Rikkis Taxis are painted yellow and very popular and these taxis run on a fixed fare rather than metered, so they are a little more affordable than metered taxis and a good option if you are traveling on longer journeys. Other than the Rikkis Taxis, tourists can choose the minibus taxis which are perfect for adventurous foreign travelers. The minibus taxis can be found practically everywhere and are very cheap, however, you will need to know exactly where your destination is and tell the driver when to stop. Another travel option is the MyCiTi bus, a modernized and effective bus system.
There are more than 60 countries listed in the visa exemption agreements, which means the citizens of these countries can stay in South Africa for up to 90 days. Other countries not listed must obtain a valid visa to enter the country. A Medical Treatment Visa is available for medical tourists. Note that all visitors must hold a passport valid for at least 30 days after the expiration of their intended visit.