Back fat

Such a problem as lipoma is commonly called a wen. This is a benign tumor that can appear on any part of the human body, including a wen on the back that is quite common.

In most patients, this pathology does not cause any deterioration in health, but it is still necessary to constantly monitor it.

Causes of a lipoma on the back

To date, the causes of a lipoma on the back are not known for certain. There are popular rumors that a lipoma is formed when a large amount of toxins accumulates in the human body, but laboratory studies do not confirm this statement.

Doctors consider the following reasons for the development of pathology to be more plausible:

• Heredity. If a program failure affected the genetic code, which subsequently affected the metabolic processes of the sebaceous glands.
• Climacteric period. During the period of restructuring of the body, in women over 45 years of age, cases of imbalance in the functioning of the glands that produce sebaceous fractions are known, which contributes to the emergence and growth of neoplasms.
• Traumatic brain injury.
• Infectious diseases that can damage the hypothalamus.
• Disruption of metabolic processes in the human body.
• "Improper nutrition" is its imbalance.
• Misalignment in the protein fermentation process.
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• The ecology is getting worse over the years.

In any case, the occurrence and further development of pathology is the blockage of the sebaceous gland channel.

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Symptoms of a lipoma on the back

Initially, a lipoma does not remind much of itself. Most often, a person independently discovers the symptoms of a lipoma on the back.

• When palpated, a spherical hardening begins to be felt.
• Pain may occur due to the tumor increasing in size and beginning to press on adjacent organs or nerve endings.
• Feeling of discomfort
• If you or a loved one discovers such a neoplasm, especially if it rapidly increases in size, you should consult a doctor, perhaps even an oncologist.

What does a lipoma on the back look like?

The appearance of a lipoma can go unnoticed, and if a patient discovers “some kind of ball under the skin,” he does not know what it is and where to go with his problem.

Lipoma starts out small, barely noticeable, less than half a centimeter in size. The "victim" does not feel any discomfort. The surface of the neoplasm is elastic to the touch, slightly dense, and does not differ in color from the rest of the skin. It takes the form of a circle or oval. The boundaries of the pathology can be either quite clear in contour or blurred.

Both the person himself and his relatives are able to detect it in everyday life.

Subcutaneous lipoma on the back

There are many factors that can cause a tumor to be located subcutaneously: hereditary predisposition, liver dysfunction, poor nutrition, and many other reasons. All of this can provoke the formation of a small, rolling pea under the skin, which either remains in its embryonic size and is not subject to any correction or treatment, or begins to grow and requires radical surgical intervention. The operation is performed under general or local anesthesia. After making an incision, the capsule is carefully removed and the wound is inspected and cleaned.

A subcutaneous lipoma on the back does not affect the color of the skin above it. It can quickly grow in size, or it can remain barely noticeable, but ignoring its appearance is in any case unsafe. Lipoma can be single, and lipomatosis - multiple accumulation of neoplasms - also occurs. Often they grow quite deeply, making diagnosis difficult.

Large wen on the back

Due to a combination of various factors, the lipoma begins to increase in size, transforming into a large fatty tumor on the back. This indicates the progression of the disease, the activation of the process of formation of connective tissue cells. As a result, not only the aesthetic discomfort for the patient increases, but also the threat of the neoplasm degenerating into a malignant cancerous tumor.

It is necessary to urgently contact a doctor who will conduct a series of laboratory tests (for example, determining the level of cholesterol in the blood), other diagnostics. Only a doctor can decide on further treatment. If you let things slide, the patient will feel tense all the time, trying to hide his defect. But this is not the worst thing. Delay in going to the doctor, in the case of malignant degeneration, can cost the patient his life. When he already goes to a specialized clinic, the area affected by metastases can be quite extensive.

It is better to remove a large tumor. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis or in a hospital, where you will have to spend two to three days. Local or general anesthesia - the decision is made by the anesthesiologist, together with the operating surgeon. By removing the pathology, the patient gets rid of further health problems.

Wen pain on the back

Lipoma is a benign tumor, but as it grows, it tries to occupy more and more space, and with its weight it begins to press on neighboring organs, nerve endings, which leads to the appearance of unpleasant sensations, and then periodic or constant pain. A lipoma on the back hurts when palpated or as a result of muscle movement.

The location of the neoplasm can be subcutaneous - the fatty layer of the epidermis (the lipoma has the shape of a mobile ball with clear boundaries) or in the layers of muscle tissue - a bumpy surface with a blurred outline.

Inflammation of the wen on the back

This pathology is rarely subject to inflammation, more often this process develops in atheromas - one of the varieties of lipomas (neoplasm in the area of the sebaceous glands). When suppurating, the skin turns red, swelling appears. The patient begins to feel a burning sensation and pain. Such a cyst can "mature" and "break through" on its own. In this case, purulent discharge of a greenish-yellow color appears. If this does not happen, surgical intervention by a surgeon is necessary. You should not postpone a visit to a specialist - the abscess can "break through" inside, penetrating into other areas. And then it is not far to sepsis. If a lipoma on the back becomes inflamed, the doctor will prescribe the necessary tests:

• Cytological examination – it is necessary to exclude the cancerous nature of the neoplasm.
• Complete blood count.
• If oncology is confirmed, a referral to an oncology dispensary is given. If the tumor is benign, the surgeon will simply remove it (under local or general anesthesia). In an outpatient setting, this procedure takes little time and is performed with a laser. If the risk of complications is high, the operation is performed in a hospital setting.

Why is a lipoma on the back dangerous?

Although a lipoma is a benign tumor, you should not brush this problem aside, even if it does not currently require any medical intervention. Any neoplasm is a real threat of degeneration into a malignant tumor, in this case, into a liposarcoma. More often, encapsulated neoplasms undergo pathological transformation.

The problem of an aesthetic nature is also important. After all, a fatty tumor on the back tends to grow and reach ten centimeters in size, which becomes almost impossible to disguise after some time.

Therefore, the doctor, after examination and conducting the necessary tests, makes a decision: to treat with medication, remove, or leave it alone, continuing to monitor the tumor.

Diagnosis of a wen on the back

It is somewhat difficult to correctly diagnose a lipoma, but in order to avoid mistakes, the diagnosis of a lipoma on the back includes:

• Ultrasound examination.
• X-ray.
• Computer tomography.
• Histological examination.

The clinical picture is that initially the patient himself or his relatives observe minor swelling. The most common localization is the neck and upper back.

Visual inspection:

• A neoplasm of spherical or oval shape.
• Soft, elastic texture.
• There is usually no pain during palpation. Pain may be caused by pressure from the tumor on nerve endings and adjacent organs.
• Size - from a few millimeters to ten centimeters or more.
• A rapid increase in size indicates the activation of connective tissue cell division and is an indication for an immediate visit to the doctor.
• Several closely located lipomas may merge together as they grow, forming a lipomatous formation.
• The location is also important. The neoplasm can appear where it interferes with carrying a bag or clothes, thereby causing discomfort to the person.

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Treatment of wen on the back

After diagnosing a neoplasm, the doctor has several directions of development: do not touch the lipoma at all, drug treatment of the wen on the back and its surgical removal. Before making a decision, the doctor compares all the factors.

If the tumor is small and does not cause discomfort to the patient, the doctor may decide not to touch it at all. But further monitoring in this case will not hurt.

Drug treatment

Sometimes taking medications is enough for the size of the neoplasm to begin to decrease. Small neoplasms – no more than two to three centimeters – can be treated. At the same time, the lipoma does not cause discomfort or pain.

A drug (for example, diprospan) is injected into the tumor area with a thin needle, which promotes the breakdown of fatty tissue. But you should not expect a lightning-fast result. The breakdown process is slow and takes three to four months. The tumor will either noticeably decrease in size or completely dissolve.

Diprospan. The administered dose of the drug directly depends on the clinical picture and severity of the disease. The average single dose of a subcutaneous injection is 0.2 ml/cm2. The weekly amount of the drug received should not exceed 1 ml. The drug does not cause pain when administered, but in special cases it is recommended to use it together with an anesthetic (1% solution of procaine or lidocaine)

Side effects. If the medicine was used once or in a short course, side effects are minimized. Long-term use of the drug or a large dosage can lead to:

• Depression and neurosis.
• Anxiety and sleep problems.
• Digestive problems.
• Increase in body weight.
• Inhibition of development and growth in children.
• Osteoporosis.
• Exacerbation of diabetes.
• Swelling.

The drug is contraindicated for people with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, unstable joints, infectious lesions, AIDS, blood clotting disorders, thrombophlebitis, nephritis, renal failure, duodenal and gastric ulcers, liver dysfunction and other diseases. Its use is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Surgical treatment

The patient will be offered surgery if:

• The tumor is more than three centimeters and continues to grow.
• Pain appears.
• There is even the slightest possibility that the neoplasm will degenerate into a malignant tumor.
• There is a danger to the health and life of the patient.
• Lipoma "on a stalk".
• Aesthetic or physical discomfort.

If the tumor is small, removal is performed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia. If the lipoma is "large", it is excised under general anesthesia in a hospital setting.

The surgeon has three ways to rid the patient of lipoma. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages.

Classic removal

The doctor makes a small incision with a scalpel. Carefully squeezes out the capsule with fat cells. Cleans the wound, scraping out the remains. This method is suitable for removing a lipoma on the back, but from a cosmetic point of view is unacceptable for the neck (a scar remains). The patient is under the doctor's supervision for two weeks.

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Puncture-aspiration technique

The process is similar to the previous one, but the removal of fatty tissue is not done through an incision in the skin, but with a needle. The patient gets rid of the tumor, and the trace of the "operation" is not noticeable. But in this case, there is no full guarantee that all fat cells have been removed and the lipoma will not start growing again.

Laser therapy

The most effective and practical painless method of removing a lipoma on the back. Bloodless. Does not leave scars, provides a guarantee that there will be no relapse. The surgical wound heals within two weeks and the patient forgets about its existence.

Pieces of excised tissue are necessarily sent for biopsy to rule out cancerous development of the disease.

To speed up the healing of the wound, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial ointments "Tetracycline" or "Levomekol".

Tetracycline ointment. The medicine is applied to the wound in a thin layer. The procedure is repeated three to five times a day. It is usually well tolerated by the patient, but in special cases nausea, vomiting, allergic skin rashes, and intestinal dysfunction may occur.

The drug is contraindicated in cases of individual intolerance to its components, leukopenia, pregnancy and for children under eight years of age.

Levomekol. The medicine is applied to gauze or a napkin, applied to the wound until it is completely clean. The gauze is changed daily. The ointment has virtually no side effects and contraindications except for an allergic reaction and individual intolerance to the drug.

Electrocoagulation

Most often used in cosmetology. Removal of a lipoma on the back is carried out by burning it with an electric current. After such an intervention, there is practically no scar left on the patient's body, in some cases, slightly noticeable pigmentation appears, which then disappears. Healing occurs in ten days.

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Traditional methods of treatment

Our ancestors, before the advent of modern treatment methods, fought this affliction with their grandfather's methods. It is only necessary to note that they can be used when the doctor has confirmed the diagnosis and given permission for alternative treatment. Otherwise, you can lose precious time.

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How to get rid of a lipoma on the back?

You can remove a lipoma at home, without resorting to medication or surgical treatment methods.

• Lamb fat has a good effect on a lipoma on the back. Melt one teaspoon of lard in a water bath. Apply it hot, but not scalding, to the problem area, rubbing in with massaging movements. A decrease in the parameters of the neoplasm will be noticeable after the first procedure. This massage should be done daily for a quarter of an hour.
• Bake the onion in the oven or stove. Grind the laundry soap (preferably the darkest color) together with the hot onion using a grater, blender or meat grinder. Mix thoroughly until smooth. Apply the resulting mixture to the lipoma and secure it with a compression bandage. Repeat the procedure three times a day until the neoplasm resolves. It is best to store the mixture in the refrigerator.
• Celandine also gives its positive result. Prepare a strong decoction of this plant, wait until it becomes room temperature. Apply in the form of compresses until the tumor "ripens" and opens on its own. After the contents flow out, treat the wound.
• Leaves of golden mustache (a medicinal houseplant) should be well crushed and applied to the tumor, secured with a bandage. A fresh leaf should be changed every 12 hours.
• An aloe leaf is applied in the same way, having first been cut lengthwise. It will take about two weeks for the lipoma to open and the core to come out. Then the wound will simply heal.
• Kalanchoe can be used as a crushed leaf or as juice soaked into gauze. It is used as a resorption compress on the neoplasm.
• Cinnamon is also valued in this case; it should be consumed in food at 1.5 tablespoons daily.
• Tinctures also show a good effect: in a sterile container, pour one glass of crushed fresh burdock root with one and a half glasses of vodka. Let it stand in a dark place for about thirty days. Drink the finished infusion one tablespoon twice a day, 30 minutes before meals.
• Stinging nettle is also effective in this case. It is dried with roots, crushed, tightly packed into a jar, filled with 75% alcohol or vodka and infused in a cool dark place for 20 days. After this, the tincture is ready for use. Compresses are made from it on the site of the pathology and left overnight, wrapped in a woolen scarf on top. The course is carried out until the problem disappears completely.
• Fresh beetroot, grated, is applied to the surface of the pathology. Cover it with cellophane and secure it with adhesive tape. It is better to do this at night. The downside of this procedure is that the skin at the point of contact is stained red.
• Garlic will also do. Peel a medium-sized head. Crush the cloves to a homogeneous gruel. Add the same amount of vegetable oil. Mix thoroughly. Rub the resulting mixture into the lipoma, massaging gently. Do this massage several times throughout the day.
• Apply a coltsfoot leaf at night for eight to ten days, with the front side facing the affected area.
• Mix equal parts water and ammonia, change a cotton swab soaked in the liquid two to three times a day. After some time, a mass similar to cottage cheese will start to be released from the neoplasm. Now it is necessary to apply a compress with 10% streptocide ointment. The tumor should go away within a month.
• Wheat grain compresses will also help in this situation. Grind the grains well in your mouth. Put the resulting substance in a canvas bag, bandage or gauze, place it on the lipoma. Cover with a layer of cellophane on top. Change the compress, repeat the procedure for several days in a row. Over time, the neoplasm will become soft, a hole will appear from which the fatty mass will begin to flow. Perform the treatment procedures until the pathology completely disappears.
• In case of inflammation, prepare a mixture of red clay with a small amount of kefir or milk and a few salt crystals. "Knead" it, make a flat cake, and apply it to the lipoma. Secure it with cellophane and adhesive tape on top. Continue treatment until the neoplasm completely disappears.
• A similar flatbread can be made from honey and onion with the addition of a small amount of flour.

Removal of a lipoma on the back

The decision to remove a lipoma is made only after a negative biopsy result. The operation is performed on an outpatient basis and takes a short time. Neoplasms located in dangerous proximity to vital human organs, the lymphatic and vascular systems are subject to removal in a hospital. Removal of a lipoma on the back, as a rule, takes place in a polyclinic.

The intervention is performed under local anesthesia. A small incision is made, through which the tumor is very carefully squeezed out, causing minimal trauma to the adjacent tissues if possible. After this, the wound is carefully examined to make sure that the lipoma has been completely removed, otherwise there is a risk of its re-growth. Sutures are applied: classic ones - if the operation site is covered with clothing and cosmetic ones - if the suture is on an open surface.

Laser removal has great advantages:

• The procedure does not cause any discomfort to the patient.
• Removal is contactless.
• Short healing times.
• Absence of colloidal formations.
• Laser removal takes a few minutes.
• Guaranteed elimination of the risk of relapse.

The big disadvantage of this procedure is its cost compared to surgical intervention.

There is a method of electrocoagulation - damage to the fat cells of the neoplasm with high-frequency electric current.

With the help of inert argon, high-frequency electromagnetic waves are regenerated, which affect the pathological area. This method is called plasma. The final result of the last three technologies is quite similar. The cost of the operation depends on the size of the lipoma, the suspicion of complications and the category of the clinic itself.

Prevention of wen on the back

The main prevention of a lipoma on the back is proper, constant skin care. The pores of the epidermis should "breathe and receive sufficient nutrition." If a person suffers from increased sweating and active work of the sebaceous glands, it is worth making your diet more balanced:

• Limit baked goods.
• Remove foods containing carcinogens and preservatives from your diet.
• Avoid spicy, fried, fatty and smoked foods.
• Increase the amount of vegetables and fruits consumed.

It is necessary to undergo timely treatment for diseases of the endocrine system, gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidneys.

Forecast of a wen on the back

A person can live a long life and not suspect that he is a carrier of a lipoma. Until a certain time, the neoplasm does not show signs of growth. Various factors can provoke it to do so: microtrauma, friction from clothing, metabolic failure in the body, etc. Quite rarely, but the neoplasm can degenerate into a malignant tumor (liposarcoma) - this is the most negative prognosis for a lipoma on the back. The main signals for immediate medical attention are the activation of tumor growth, pain, or any doubts. It is better to play it safe by contacting an oncologist.

If the tumor is larger than 3 cm, it is better to remove it. In this case, the prognosis for a lipoma on the back is favorable and is not burdened by future relapses. An exception may be a hereditary predisposition to this pathology.

A lipoma on the back is a benign neoplasm (in rare cases it develops into a cancerous tumor). It is not dangerous for a person and brings more aesthetic discomfort. But in order to sleep peacefully, it is still worth consulting a specialist and undergoing all the necessary diagnostic procedures. If medically indicated, surgery will allow you to restore cosmetic order and prevent the recurrence of lipoma in the future.