What are cysts and lipomas?
Cysts are cavities filled with sebum and cell material that show as a hemispherical bump under the skin. Lipomas are benign, soft and mobile tumours of the subcutaneous fatty tissue. Both are harmless – but they can grow, get in the way mechanically or, in the case of a cyst, become painfully inflamed.
When and how is removal carried out?
Removal is advisable if the lesion increases in size, becomes inflamed repeatedly or is cosmetically troublesome. We first let inflamed cysts settle before removing them completely – capsule included – so that they do not come back. The procedure is carried out on an outpatient basis under local anaesthetic.
Source: Empfehlungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Dermatochirurgie (DGDC) (recommendations of the German Society for Dermatologic Surgery)