Lumps of fat under the skin

[Justin68]

Dear Doctor,
I am a forty year old male in good health with no physical ailments. I have a concern regarding what appears to be lumps of fat (I can't think of any other way to describe them) all over my body just below the skin and above the muscle layer. There are more than forty of these "lumps" all over my body (arms, legs, back, side of body). The lumps vary in size from 1cm to 3cm in diameter. The lumps seem to be concentrated in areas where I have a lot of fat, such as around my waist, back, and on the side of my body half way between my underarm and waist. However, there are some lumps where there isn't a lot of fat, such as on my forearm or bicep area. I have had these lumps since I was a teenager and didn't worry about them because my mother had the similar condition. Two years ago, I had one of the lumps removed on my back because it was about 4-5 cm in diameter and gave me discomfort whenever I sat back on the hard back of a chair. The doctor told me afterwards that it was just deposits of fat and I had nothing to worry about. However, he could not tell me if my condition was common or why this is occuring or even if there was something I could do to prevent or reduce the number of these lumps on my body. Nevertheless, I am concerned even more these days because the lumps seem to be increasing in number. Doctor, please let me know what is causing this and if there is anything I can do to get rid of these lumps. Thank you very much in advance.

[alexa2525]

Wow- my husband just had same-day surgery to remove one of his "fat lumps" which happen to be right next (onto) his intestine and causing him sporatic pain.  He is 42 years old, and has always had these lumps-and I belive he may have only around 8-10 around his body, not as many as you do, but they don't really bother him unless they are in spots that cause pain.  Therefore, the bad part of this, is that they can apparently be 'under the skin" and therefore an MRI and other medical tests have to be done to see what really is going on...all this money spent to diagnose a fat lump!
I wonder if it is hereditary- his mother has past away, but I will have to ask around at the next family reunion...

[Dr Santos]

Hi,

A lipoma is a slow-growing, fatty tumor situated between the skin and the muscle layer that moves readily with pressure. Lipomas often occur in the neck, shoulders, back, arms and thighs. They could be several and persists for years and can occur at any age.  A lipoma is usually harmless. Treatment is not needed unless it  is painful or is growing and surgical resection is indicated. Recurrences are not common. Steroid injection and liposuction are other alternatives for removal. It is best that you discuss this with your doctor for proper evaluation and management.

Take care and keep us posted.

[Dctrized]

resection ?? for fatty lumps ?? you kidding ? resection means to cut and connect the 2 parts like a colon resection.

[golden33]

I happened to noticed a similar lump on arm, but i'm afaraid to have it checked. I read some of the posts here and it seems no need to worry.
I noticed in 2003 and its grown to a marble in size since. Any suggestions for avoiding or preventing growing those lumps?...

[ShutTheDoor]

I have the same things on both of my arms.  My Dad had them on his arms and now my older sister and I have them.  The older I get, the more I get.  The Doctor told me not to worry unless they cause me problems. I don't like the way they look.

[walker1981]

hi,
   i am 28 years old and have around 10 - 15 of these lumps mainly in my back and 1 in my arm. i have been to my doctor about this as i have not been able to have a full night sleep for months if i lay on my back and my doctor doesnt seem to bother about it. i am getting verry worried about them as the ones in my back hurt. it doesnt help that i get very paranoid about any kind of lump on my body and i am now feeling stuck. i dont know what to do about it and its getting me down. does anyone have any advice as to what i can do about this now and i suppose the only other option to me is to go private and have them removed.

regards, Chris.

[pepsisformosa382]

Hi Chris, Im a 35 yr old guy and I have had a couple of these lumps that you are describing. I have had one removed and the other comes out tomorrow. First of all dont panic. The removal process is quick and painless and I didn't even have to go to hospital for it, just my local clinic. You will be left will a small and barely noticable scar and a weight off your shoulders. Take it easy. Craig.

[Xan123]

I have more than 100 of these fat lumps. They are most visible on my arms, but most of them are located on my chest, stomach and back. Only my head, hands and legs from the knee and down are "clean". I am 41 now, and have had them for 25 years. New ones still appear. I have had a few removed by surgery. First one at the hospital and then i removed three at a private clinic. This leaves scars. The removed lumps have been analyzed, but nothing harmful is found.
I am rather athletic and during spring I work out so much that most of my ordinary waist and stomach fat disappears. This reveals dozens of lumps. It looks funny. Luckily I am not very vain, buth it still bothers me. Some of them can be painful, because I often lean into them.
Removing 100 lumps by cutting is out of the question. But I have been thinking that there should be other ways to remove this. Wouldn't it be possible to melt it in somehow? Or a combination of melting and liposuction. Has anyone heard of this?

[noormaster]

i have the same problem,i just want to know what will happen if i start to do gym ;will it reduces the lumps of fat / should i reduce the amount of fat consume or the amount of carbohydrates /

[abuthobit]

I have the same problem, moreever I fell like neddle on my nerves area specialy arond the neck and down in my back . help me please.

[anika777]

Not everyone gains weight the same way and we all have extra pockets where fat can deposit if the reservoir is full. My husband had them and with a little exercise and diet he never got them again.  No simple carbs and more complex carbs with a little of cardio and they are gone for good.

[Olly567]

I've had a few of these since I was 25, I find they get larger and have more of them as my body far percentage increases. I've recently put myself on a heavy exercise regime, swimming 5 times a week and yoga 3 times a week and after only 2 weeks I'm noticing a substantial reduction in the size of these lumps.  To give you some context my body fat was at 32% when I started and is now at 29%.

[dkiv]

what they are talking about is different

[rathindra003]

I to have these fatty lumps on my body from teenage. But now their number is increasing. I recently went to a ayurvedic doctor who gave me some medicine and say all lumps will disappear in 3 months if I take the medicines regulaly.

[smithcan66]

hi , iam 28 a nutritionist and  engineer by profession . i am also having this but now reduced very much . actually i became a nutritionist after these fats deposit only. (contact me  : ***@****)

   olly is 100% right , exercise , swim are ways to burn away fat in the body and consume  no fat food for some time will burn the fat deposit ....
same time take more carbo hydrate and protein food along with minerals and vitamin

but no to fats and cholesterol ....in any form through food or meat or oils or nuts for some days....  

[frencheeee]

i do not believe this is the same kind of fat deposits that everyone is talking about.  Wonderful that your husband lost whatever fat that he had.  I was in my thirties and had one removed from my waist  because of pain.  incredible what i saw.  It looked like chicken fat.  But it was huge.  I couldn't believe that was in my body.  Today i am 54 and my body is covered with these awful fat deposits.  It is definitely hereditary.  My grandfather, aunts, uncles and my mom have them to.  I hate it.  I was told that there was nothing to prevent them.

[micho2004]

thank you doctor for the info i do have the same fat lumps for more than 20 years they never hurt is there any diet in food or any medicine or any way to dissolve these lumps ?

[2only4me]

hello sir. I am from India . Tamilnadu. I am also having these kind of lumps. are you taking that ayurvedic medicines. My mail id is ***@****. Pls tell me the details and the doctor details. pls. Thank you

[micho2004]

i have to ask about this medicine here in the united states does it work for you and how long did you use it before seeing results

[nlakshman]

Could you please provide the details of the Ayurvedic medicine that you are taking? Who is the doctor?Thanks for your help. My email id is ***@****

[winnie62]

Is this the name of a medicine ( Ayurvedic ),,,, I have a lump on my bicep. quite big, probably the size of a golf ball... it bothers me because when you get all dressed up that is all I see. My doctor keeps telling me it is cosmetic surgery and I would have to pay for it !!!!!

[melcme]

I agree they must be talking about something different.  I have the same fatty tumors, so does my dad and 3 brothers.  Exercising and diet will NOT help.  I am a very athletic person with very little body fat.  Weigh 110 less than 8% body fat.  For about 8mo I even tried the steroid shots.  In only a couple of the tumors I noticed that they got a little softer and not as noticeable.  That was only a few out of about 45!  All of the little injections would cause bruising.  Decided to have just one of the larger ones removed to see how it does.  Was done in a dermatologist office and cost me $300!  It left a noticeable scare.  I'm still searching away to have them removed.  Being a nice looking, single female, I am very embarrased by all these bumps.  

[Caslawyer]

Similar symptoms as a number of you.  Many small non-tender lumps since teens (now 47 - male).  Father reports some and so allegedly did paternal grandfather.  Lumps aren't particularly bothersome and perhaps because I am quite overweight anyway not noticeable. Saw a doctor once who noted they were indeed lipomas as I thought they were cysts.  For what it is worth for a number of years have decided I must be a case of "familial multiple lipomatosis".  Can Google for more information. It is allegedly very rare but wondering if given the numbers of postings it is not rare at all but seldom diagnosed or, as in my case, just not a problem worthy of further treatment (at least so far).  Anyway, I add as didn't see anyone mentioning the "fml" part.  Good luck.  R.

[crlamke]

Just adding my weight to the idea that these are lipomas. I first started getting them in my early 20s, had a couple removed and tested, and now at age 46 I have about 40 of them all over my torso, with a few on my arms and legs. The ones that were tested years ago were just fat, and since I've had them so long, it's very unlikely they're dangerous. They are annoying since they seem to be increasing in number with age, but I've talked with my doctor and my brother (also a physician) and they confirm there is no known way to prevent these and the most effective treatment is surgery to remove them. Less effective is liposuction or steroids. If I were wealthy, I'd get them removed by a plastic surgeon, but I'm not going to pay a lot of money to have a body full of scars, only to see them come back later.

They are certainly a nuisance, but as far as I've found in researching this, they don't seem dangerous, don't increase your risk of something else dangerous, and are just one of the human body's quirks for some people.

I don't think they are as rare as the statistics say. I have seen or heard of too many people with these to consider them rare. I think they are just under-reported because they are relatively harmless.

[micky683]

Hello,
       can you mail me the name of medicene.

[boryslav]

Hi,

I am 29 years old, I have the same lumps and about 5 years ago doctor told me the same thing - do not worry, its just fat, but now I am getting more and more of those.

If anyone have any medicine that you try, please share, and if you had them removed could you please post some pictures how big is the scars after.

Thank You
my email: ***@****
Please send some pictures of scars after lump removed.