Expert Lipoma Removal Los Angeles

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Lipoma Removal with Minimal Scar Incision in Los Angeles

Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center  ·  Santa Monica & Beverly Hills, Los Angeles

Minimal Scar Lipoma Removal Los Angeles

Our board-certified plastic surgeon uses precise methodology and surgical planning to remove your face or body lipoma with minimal scars so that your recovery is effortless. Graduate of the UCLA School of Medicine, Dr. Karamanoukian has 20 years of expertise in lipoma removal. 

Call (310) 998-5533 Book a Consultation
Expertiseboard-certified plastic surgeon
PPOout of network insurance provider
LocalAnesthesia In-Office Procedure
 

The Procedure

 

Lipoma Removal Los Angeles: Surgical Precision. Minimal Scarring. 

A lipoma is a benign fatty tumor — a slow-growing, soft, and movable mass of adipose cells enclosed in a thin fibrous capsule that develops beneath the skin. While entirely non-cancerous and rarely dangerous, lipomas cause significant cosmetic distress, physical discomfort, and psychological burden for the patients who live with them — particularly when they are large, multiple, or located in visible areas such as the neck, upper arms, back, or forehead.

At Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center in Santa Monica, Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian performs lipoma removal using a specialized minimal scar technique — a surgical approach that uses incisions significantly smaller than the lipoma itself, precisely placed within the skin’s natural tension lines and concealed within skin folds, to deliver the complete lipoma through a small access point with the least possible scarring. This approach, combined with multilayer wound closure, advanced scar management protocols, and Dr. Karamanoukian’s formal training in plastic surgery wound healing, produces results that consistently surpass the outcomes achievable by general surgeons, urgent care physicians, or dermatologists performing lipoma removal in the Los Angeles area.

Most lipoma removals at Kare Plastic Surgery are performed in-office under local anesthesia, without sedation or general anesthesia, and are completed in 30–60 minutes. Patients drive themselves to the appointment, walk out afterward, and typically return to desk work the same day or the following morning. Insurance PPO plans are accepted for medically indicated lipoma removal, and self-pay transparent pricing is available for cosmetic cases.

Why Patients Choose Dr. Karamanoukian for Lipoma Removal

  • Board-certified plastic surgeon with UCLA training — the highest surgical credential available
  • Minimal scar technique — incision smaller than the lipoma itself
  • Incisions placed in natural skin creases and tension lines for optimal concealment
  • Multilayer wound closure with dissolving sutures for the best possible scar quality
  • Local anesthesia only — no general anesthesia, no hospital, no overnight stay
  • 30–60 minute in-office procedure with same-day return to normal activities
  • We work closely with dermatopathologists to histologically diagnose lipomas
  • Expert post-operative scar management including silicone, laser, and steroid protocols
  • Multiple lipomas removed in a single session when appropriate
  • PPO insurance accepted for medically indicated cases

Surgeon Expertise

 

Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian: Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon & Scar Expert in Los Angeles

Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS is a double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and UCLA-trained specialist with over two decades of experience in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Within the field of plastic surgery, he has developed particular expertise in scar science — understanding the biology of wound healing, the mechanics of scar formation, and the full range of surgical and non-surgical interventions that influence scar quality — making him uniquely qualified among Los Angeles lipoma removal providers to minimize the cosmetic impact of the incision required to access and remove the lipoma.

This distinction matters profoundly. The difference between lipoma removal performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon and the same procedure performed by a general surgeon, urgent care physician, or general practitioner is not the ability to excise the lipoma — it is what happens before, during, and after that excision. A plastic surgeon evaluates the overlying skin laxity, maps the relaxed skin tension lines (RSTLs) at the operative site, chooses the incision orientation that will heal with the finest and most inconspicuous scar, executes the closure in multiple meticulously sutured layers, and provides a post-operative scar management protocol that continues for months after the procedure. These elements, collectively, determine whether a patient heals with a barely visible line or a wide, raised, discolored scar.

Dr. Karamanoukian’s scar expertise extends to the management of lipoma removal scars that have not healed well after procedures performed elsewhere — patients who come to Kare Plastic Surgery with wide, stretched, or hypertrophic scars from prior lipoma excisions by non-plastic-surgeon providers. He offers scar revision surgery, laser resurfacing, and intralesional treatments to improve these outcomes, and his experience managing these complications informs the level of care he brings to every primary lipoma removal.

“Any surgeon can remove a lipoma. The question is what the skin looks like afterward. In plastic surgery, we plan the incision with the same care we plan the excision — choosing the orientation, the length, and the closure technique that will leave the patient with a result they barely notice rather than a scar that replaces one cosmetic concern with another.”

— Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS — Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

His practice at Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center on 7th Street in Santa Monica serves lipoma patients from throughout Los Angeles — Beverly Hills, Brentwood, West Hollywood, Culver City, Malibu, the San Fernando Valley, and Pasadena — as well as from other states who travel specifically for his expertise in minimal scar lipoma removal. Patients with familial multiple lipomatosis, who may have dozens of lipomas requiring removal over their lifetime, particularly benefit from Dr. Karamanoukian’s ability to remove multiple lipomas in a single session with consistently excellent cosmetic results.

Understanding Lipomas

 

What Is a Lipoma? Biology, Causes & When to Seek Removal

A lipoma is a benign fatty tumor enclosed within a thin fibrous capsule. Lipomas are the most common soft-tissue tumor in the human body, affecting approximately 1 in 1,000 individuals, with peak incidence between the ages of 40 and 60, though they can develop at any age. They are slow-growing, typically soft and doughy to the touch, movable under gentle finger pressure, and almost universally non-tender unless they are angiolipomas (a variant with a vascular component that can produce tenderness or pain).

Lipomas most commonly form in the subcutaneous tissue — the layer of fat immediately beneath the skin — making them palpable as a distinct lump that slides easily under the overlying skin without attachment. They can, however, develop in deeper locations including within muscle (intramuscular lipoma), between fascial layers (intermuscular lipoma), or adjacent to major vessels and nerves — presentations that require pre-operative imaging and surgical expertise beyond what a basic lipoma excision demands.

Lipoma Variants Treated at Kare Plastic Surgery

Not all lipomas are identical. Several histologic variants present with distinct clinical characteristics that influence diagnosis and surgical planning:

  • Standard subcutaneous lipoma: The most common type — soft, mobile, painless, and superficially located. Easily accessible via a minimal incision above the lesion.
  • Angiolipoma: A lipoma containing numerous small blood vessels within the fatty tissue. Distinctive for being painful or tender on palpation — a feature that often motivates removal. The vascular component means intraoperative hemostasis is more important than with standard lipomas.
  • Fibrolipoma: A variant containing significant fibrous connective tissue intermixed with the fatty component, giving it a firmer consistency than a standard lipoma. May require more careful dissection due to fibrous attachments.
  • Intramuscular lipoma: A lipoma growing within skeletal muscle, making it harder to palpate and often requiring MRI for characterization before surgical planning. Intramuscular lipomas have a higher recurrence rate after excision because their infiltrative growth pattern makes complete excision more technically demanding.
  • Spindle cell / pleomorphic lipoma: Variants found predominantly on the neck, back, and shoulders of middle-aged men. These appear benign histologically but require pathologic confirmation to exclude atypical lipomatous tumor.
  • Multiple lipomas (familial lipomatosis): Some patients develop numerous lipomas simultaneously — a condition called familial multiple lipomatosis with a strong genetic component. Dr. Karamanoukian is experienced in removing multiple lipomas in a single operative session, significantly reducing the total number of procedures required.

Important: When is a lipoma not a lipoma? Several conditions can mimic a lipoma on physical examination — including epidermoid cysts, ganglia, liposarcoma (a malignant fatty tumor), and enlarged lymph nodes. Liposarcomas are rare but can be indistinguishable from benign lipomas by clinical examination alone, particularly when they are deep-seated, large (>5–10 cm), or intramuscular. Dr. Karamanoukian performs a thorough clinical assessment of every lipoma and orders pre-operative MRI imaging when clinical features raise any concern for malignancy. We work closely with a team of dermatopathologists to examine the removed lipoma under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis. 

1 in 1,000Population incidence of lipoma
40–60Peak age of lipoma development
30–60 minTypical in-office procedure duration
<2%Recurrence rate after complete excision

Treatment Locations

 

Lipoma Removal by Body Location in Los Angeles

Lipomas can develop virtually anywhere on the body where fat cells are present. The optimal incision placement and surgical approach vary significantly by location — making Dr. Karamanoukian’s anatomical expertise as a plastic surgeon particularly valuable for lipomas in cosmetically sensitive or anatomically complex sites.


Forehead & Scalp


Neck & Nape


Face & Jaw


Upper Arm & Armpit


Forearm & Elbow


Chest & Pectoral


Upper & Mid Back


Abdomen & Flank


Hip & Buttock


Thigh & Knee


Leg & Ankle


Multiple Lipomas

Lipomas on the back are among the most common presentations at Kare Plastic Surgery — often growing for years before patients seek removal because they are not visible to the patient in a mirror and are discovered by a partner or during a medical examination. Upper arm and armpit lipomas are particularly requested for removal by active Los Angeles patients whose fitness routines and beach lifestyle make concealment difficult. Neck lipomas require special care due to proximity to carotid vessels, cervical lymph nodes, and superficial neck musculature. For forehead lipomas, Dr. Karamanoukian can often plan the incision at the hairline — making the access scar effectively invisible.

The Plastic Surgery Advantage

 

The Minimal Scar Technique for Lipoma Removal

Every lipoma removal leaves a scar. The question is how noticeable that scar will be — and the answer depends almost entirely on who performs the surgery and how. At Kare Plastic Surgery, Dr. Karamanoukian applies the full discipline of plastic surgical wound management to every lipoma excision.

Incision Design & Placement

The orientation and placement of the incision determines how the scar heals more than any other single factor. Dr. Karamanoukian plans every incision along the relaxed skin tension lines (RSTLs) — the natural lines of minimal skin tension that run perpendicular to the underlying muscle fibers — because incisions made parallel to these lines heal with finer, flatter, less conspicuous scars than incisions made across them.

Beyond orientation, he selects incision sites that exploit natural concealment opportunities: the posterior hairline for forehead or scalp lipomas, the inframammary fold for chest lipomas, the axillary crease for armpit lesions, and the natural skin folds of the neck, elbow, and groin for lipomas in these areas. This means that even when the scar cannot be made truly invisible, it is as well-hidden as the anatomy allows.

Small Incision Delivery Technique

The central premise of Dr. Karamanoukian’s minimal scar approach is that the incision does not need to match the diameter of the lipoma — it only needs to be large enough to allow complete dissection and delivery of the encapsulated mass. Using careful blunt and sharp dissection to free the lipoma from its surrounding tissue planes, he systematically reduces the lipoma’s apparent bulk by delivering it in segments through the small access incision while maintaining capsule integrity — analogous, as one surgeon has described it, to delivering a baby through a small opening.

This technique requires patience, anatomical knowledge, and genuine surgical skill — qualities that reflect the difference between a trained plastic surgeon and a provider who simply cuts an incision the length of the lipoma and removes it en bloc without regard for the cosmetic consequences.

Multilayer Wound Closure

After the lipoma is removed, the wound is closed in multiple layers — eliminating dead space beneath the skin where seroma fluid can accumulate, re-approximating the deep dermal tissue to reduce tension on the skin surface, and closing the epidermis with fine sutures or surgical tape. This layered approach distributes the closure tension across deeper tissue planes rather than concentrating it at the skin surface, producing a finer, flatter final scar.

Dr. Karamanoukian uses deep dissolving sutures that do not need removal, minimizing patient visits and reducing the risk of suture track marks. The epidermal closure uses either fine monofilament sutures or surgical skin closure tape depending on the site and anticipated skin tension, with meticulous attention to surface level eversion that prevents the depressed, sunken scar that results from poor epidermal approximation.

Post-Operative Scar Management

Scar management at Kare Plastic Surgery does not end when the sutures are removed. Dr. Karamanoukian prescribes a structured post-operative scar optimization protocol that may include medical-grade silicone gel or sheeting (the most evidence-based intervention for reducing scar height and redness), sun protection with SPF 50+, and massage instruction for softening early scar tissue.

For patients in whom early hypertrophic changes are detected, intralesional triamcinolone injection is initiated promptly — before the scar matures into a firm, raised keloid. Vbeam pulsed-dye laser treatment is offered for early erythematous (red) scars to reduce vascularity and accelerate scar maturation. Fractional laser resurfacing is available for mature scars requiring surface texture improvement. This comprehensive, physician-supervised scar management program is unique to a plastic surgery practice and is not available from non-surgeon lipoma providers.

Your Surgical Experience

 

The Lipoma Removal Procedure at Kare Plastic Surgery: Step by Step

 

Consultation & Clinical Assessment

Dr. Karamanoukian performs a thorough examination of the lipoma — assessing its size, depth, mobility, consistency, and skin attachment. He palpates the margins carefully and evaluates the overlying skin quality. For lipomas that are large (>5 cm), deep, intramuscular, or exhibit any atypical features (firmness, fixation, rapid growth), he orders MRI imaging before proceeding with surgical planning. The incision location and orientation are discussed with the patient, and a realistic preview of expected scar quality is provided based on the anatomical site and skin characteristics.

 

Surgical Marking

On the day of surgery, with the patient seated or standing in the position that best represents the natural skin tension, Dr. Karamanoukian marks the lipoma’s borders through the skin using a surgical marker — delineating the full extent of the mass beneath the surface. The planned incision is marked within or parallel to the RSTLs, positioned for maximum concealment. For lipomas near natural folds or creases, the incision is placed within the fold to exploit natural skin camouflage. The planned incision length is typically one-third to one-half the diameter of the lipoma, reflecting the small-access philosophy of the technique.

 

Local Anesthesia Administration

Lidocaine with epinephrine is injected in a field block pattern around the lipoma — anesthetizing the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and operative field without the risks, costs, or recovery requirements of general anesthesia. Epinephrine causes local vasoconstriction that dramatically reduces intraoperative bleeding, improving the surgical field and reducing post-operative bruising. Patients experience a brief stinging sensation during injection and complete numbness within 3–5 minutes. Throughout the procedure, Dr. Karamanoukian communicates continuously with the patient, ensuring comfort and immediately supplementing anesthesia if any pressure or discomfort is perceived.

 

Lipoma Excision Through Minimal Incision

The skin incision is made precisely along the pre-marked line using a fine surgical scalpel. Using a combination of sharp dissection (with scissors) and blunt dissection (with a finger or retractor), the plane between the lipoma capsule and surrounding subcutaneous tissue is developed circumferentially. As the lipoma is freed from its attachments, it is carefully delivered through the incision — using the small-access technique to guide the encapsulated mass through the opening in segments, preserving capsule integrity to minimize the risk of leaving residual fat cells that could lead to recurrence. Hemostasis is achieved with electrocautery or pressure. The wound is inspected to confirm complete removal before closure.

 

Multilayer Wound Closure

The wound is irrigated and any residual bleeding is controlled. Deep dissolving sutures (Vicryl or Monocryl) are placed in the deep dermal and subcutaneous layers to eliminate dead space, reduce wound tension, and begin the layered closure that defines plastic surgical technique. The skin edges are carefully approximated with fine sutures or surgical skin closure tape, with attention to edge eversion and precise dermal alignment. A sterile dressing is applied. The entire excision and closure for a standard lipoma typically takes 20–40 minutes.

 

Pathology Submission & Post-Operative Care

All removed tissue is submitted to an independent pathology laboratory for histologic examination to confirm the benign lipoma diagnosis and exclude atypical lipomatous tumor or other unexpected findings. Results are communicated to the patient within 1–2 weeks. Post-operative instructions include keeping the dressing clean and dry for 48 hours, wound care with petroleum jelly after dressing changes, activity restrictions (no strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for 2 weeks), and beginning the scar management protocol as directed. A follow-up appointment at 1–2 weeks reviews wound healing. Scar management is initiated at 3–4 weeks post-operatively once the wound is fully healed.

Who We Treat

 

Who Should Consider Lipoma Removal in Los Angeles?

While lipomas are benign and not medically dangerous in the vast majority of cases, many patients have compelling cosmetic, functional, or diagnostic reasons to pursue removal. Dr. Karamanoukian assesses each patient individually at consultation and provides a frank, honest recommendation about whether surgical removal is appropriate given the specific lipoma’s characteristics and the patient’s goals.

✓   Ideal Indications for Lipoma Removal at Kare Plastic Surgery

  • Patients with a lipoma that is growing over time — even slowly growing lipomas tend to enlarge progressively and become more difficult to remove through a minimal incision as they increase in size, making earlier removal the more favorable option for scar minimization
  • Those with a lipoma in a visible location — including the neck, upper arms, forearms, face, or forehead — that is causing cosmetic distress or social self-consciousness, affecting professional appearance, or interfering with clothing fit
  • Patients with an angiolipoma causing tenderness or pain with pressure, physical activity, or contact — a medical indication for removal that may qualify for insurance coverage
  • Individuals with a lipoma causing functional impairment — including limitation of joint movement, nerve compression symptoms, or pressure on adjacent structures — for whom removal is a medical necessity
  • Patients with multiple lipomas (familial lipomatosis) who would benefit from simultaneous removal of several lesions in a single session, minimizing total anesthesia exposure and recovery time
  • Those with a lipoma that has exhibited recent rapid growth, change in consistency, or new onset of pain — features that warrant surgical removal and pathologic evaluation to exclude the rare possibility of malignant transformation or liposarcoma
  • Patients who have had a prior lipoma removal elsewhere that resulted in a cosmetically unsatisfactory scar and are seeking revision — Dr. Karamanoukian offers scar revision surgery, laser resurfacing, and intralesional treatments for poorly healed lipoma excision scars
  • Individuals scheduled for future cosmetic surgery in the same anatomical region — including facelift, body contouring, or arm lift — where simultaneous lipoma removal during the planned procedure avoids an additional incision and recovery
  • Patients who are simply bothered by the presence of the lipoma, even if it is small and asymptomatic — cosmetic distress is a legitimate indication for removal, and the procedure’s simplicity and minimal downtime make it a practical option for many patients
  • Those for whom an undiagnosed soft tissue mass — suspected to be a lipoma but not yet formally evaluated — requires diagnostic confirmation through excisional biopsy and histopathology

On insurance coverage: Lipoma removal is covered by many PPO insurance plans when the lipoma meets criteria for medical necessity — including symptoms of pain, nerve compression, functional impairment, or a size and growth rate that warrants histologic evaluation. Dr. Karamanoukian’s office assists patients with insurance verification and pre-authorization documentation. Cosmetic lipoma removal — where the indication is aesthetic rather than medical — is typically a self-pay procedure with transparent pricing provided at consultation.

Common Questions

 

Frequently Asked Questions: Lipoma Removal Los Angeles

Can a large lipoma really be removed through a small incision?

Minimal scar lipoma removal relies heavily on plastic surgery expertise.  The incision does not need to match the width of the lipoma; it only needs to be large enough to allow the surgeon to develop the dissection plane around the lipoma capsule and deliver the freed mass through the opening. For most lipomas, a smaller incision is sufficient. This requires genuine surgical skill and patience, but consistently produces cosmetically superior outcomes compared to the traditional approach of incising the full diameter of the lipoma.

Is lipoma removal painful?

Most lipoma removal procedures are performed under local anesthesia that completely numbs the operative field before any incision is made. Patients experience a brief stinging sensation during the injection of lidocaine, followed by complete numbness within minutes. Throughout the procedure, patients feel pressure and movement but no pain. Post-operatively, mild soreness in the area is typical for 3–7 days and is managed effectively with over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Most patients describe the discomfort as significantly less than they anticipated.

How long is recovery after lipoma removal?

Most patients return to desk work and light activities the same day or the following morning. Strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and activities that significantly elevate the heart rate are restricted for 2 weeks to allow proper wound healing. The incision site is kept clean and dressed for 48–72 hours, after which petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment is applied during the healing phase. Sutures that require removal are taken out at 1–2 weeks; most deep sutures dissolve on their own. The scar continues to mature and fade over 6–18 months.

Will my lipoma come back after removal?

The recurrence rate after complete lipoma excision is very low — less than 2% in published data — when the entire lipoma including its fibrous capsule is removed. Incomplete removal, which is more common when the lipoma is accessed through an incision that does not allow adequate visualization and dissection of the entire capsule, significantly increases recurrence risk. Dr. Karamanoukian’s technique prioritizes complete capsule excision to minimize this risk. Patients with familial lipomatosis should understand that new lipomas may develop at different sites after removal, as this reflects the underlying systemic condition rather than recurrence of the removed lipoma.

Why choose a plastic surgeon for lipoma removal rather than a general surgeon or dermatologist?

The ability to remove a lipoma is within the scope of practice of multiple medical specialties — but the ability to do so with minimum scarring, maximum anatomical safety, and access to comprehensive scar management is specific to plastic surgery training. Board-certified plastic surgeons study the science of wound healing, incision planning, and closure technique as core components of their residency training — and have access to adjuvant scar treatments (laser, steroid injection, silicone protocols) that form a post-operative management system unavailable in most urgent care, general surgery, or basic dermatology settings. The scar that remains after lipoma removal is what the patient lives with for the rest of their life. Investing in a plastic surgeon’s care for that outcome is the most consequential decision in the lipoma removal process.

Can multiple lipomas be removed in one appointment?

Yes — and this is a significant advantage for patients with familial multiple lipomatosis or those who have accumulated several lipomas over time. Dr. Karamanoukian routinely removes multiple lipomas in a single session, typically addressing up to 5–6 lesions at one appointment depending on their size and distribution. Combining removals reduces the total number of anesthesia administrations, recovery periods, and office visits required, and often reduces the overall cost compared to individual procedures. The number of lipomas addressable in a single session is discussed at consultation based on their locations and sizes.

Is lipoma removal covered by insurance in Los Angeles?

Many PPO insurance plans cover lipoma removal when the procedure is performed for documented medical necessity — including pain (angiolipoma), nerve compression, functional limitation, or significant rapid growth warranting histologic evaluation. Dr. Karamanoukian’s office verifies PPO coverage before your appointment and provides the documentation required for pre-authorization. Cosmetically motivated lipoma removal — where the lipoma is asymptomatic and removal is for aesthetic reasons alone — is generally not covered and is offered at transparent self-pay pricing. HMO plans typically require referral from a primary care physician.

What happens if the removed tissue turns out not to be a lipoma?

All tissue removed at Kare Plastic Surgery is submitted to a pathology laboratory for independent histologic analysis. If the pathology report identifies an unexpected finding — including atypical lipomatous tumor, well-differentiated liposarcoma, or another unexpected diagnosis — Dr. Karamanoukian reviews the findings with the patient personally, explains the pathologic diagnosis, and either provides definitive management or refers the patient to the appropriate specialist for additional care. This pathology safety net is a non-negotiable component of lipoma removal at our practice and is one of the important reasons that physician-supervised surgical excision is preferred over office-based non-surgical alternatives.

Schedule Your Lipoma Removal Consultation in Los Angeles

If you have a lipoma that is bothering you — cosmetically, functionally, or both — Dr. Karamanoukian’s minimal scar technique delivers the results that a board-certified plastic surgeon and scar expert uniquely provides. Contact our Santa Monica office to schedule a consultation today.

(310) 998-5533 Request a Consultation

Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center  ·  804 7th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403  ·  (310) 998-5533

Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS — Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon  ·  UCLA-Trained  ·  Scar Expert  ·  RealSelf 100  ·  PPO Insurance Accepted