Lumps under the skin are common, and most are harmless. A sebaceous or epidermoid cyst is a blocked skin gland that fills with keratin and feels like a firm pea under the skin; a lipoma is a soft collection of fat cells that grows slowly and moves slightly under the finger. Either can be left alone if it is small and quiet. Removal is usually considered when a lump is growing, keeps becoming inflamed or infected, is uncomfortable against clothing, or when it needs to be looked at under a microscope to know what it is. At Accord Medical Clinic in Ubi the doctor examines the lump first, because the decision to remove it — and how — depends on what it appears to be.
Accord Medical Clinic provides cyst and lipoma removal at its clinic at Blk 325 Ubi Avenue 1, Singapore 400325. The lump is examined first, and where removal is appropriate the area is numbed with local anaesthetic and the lump is excised through a small incision in the clinic treatment room. Removed tissue is often sent to a laboratory. Some lumps need assessment or investigation before any decision about removal, and suitability is decided at consultation.
What this covers
A lump under the skin that is growing
A cyst that keeps becoming inflamed or infected
A lump that is uncomfortable or catching on clothing
A lump that has changed in appearance
A lump that needs to be identified under a microscope
Examination of the lump before any decision
Excision of a cyst or lipoma under local anaesthetic, where appropriate
Tissue sent to a laboratory where this is indicated
Wound-care advice and a review appointment
Referral where the lump needs specialist assessment
Cyst and lipoma removal at the clinic
Removal of cysts and lipomas
Sebaceous cysts and lipomas are benign lumps that sit under the skin. Where removal is appropriate, the area is numbed with local anaesthetic and the lump is excised through a small incision.
For a cyst, the aim is to remove the whole sac rather than simply drain it, because a sac left behind tends to fill again. For a lipoma, the lump is separated from the tissue around it and lifted out.
The lump is examined first. Some lumps need assessment or investigation before any decision about removal is made, and removed tissue is often sent to a laboratory for examination — this is how the diagnosis is confirmed rather than assumed.
You will be given wound-care advice and a review appointment, and the doctor will tell you when the stitches should be removed for that particular site.
This page is general information about cyst and lipoma removal at the clinic. It is not a substitute for an examination, and whether a lump should be removed is decided by the doctor at your visit.
What happens at your appointment
01
The doctor examines the lump and asks how long it has been there and whether it has changed.
02
You are told what it appears to be, and whether it needs removing, investigating or simply watching.
03
Where removal is appropriate, the area around the lump is numbed with local anaesthetic.
04
The lump is excised through a small incision, and the opening is closed.
05
The tissue is sent to a laboratory where that is indicated, and you are told when to expect the result.
06
You are given wound-care advice and a review appointment, and told when the stitches come out.
Questions about cyst and lipoma removal at the clinic
How do I know whether a lump is a cyst or a lipoma?
A cyst often feels like a firm pea under the skin and may have a small punctum, while a lipoma is usually softer, moves slightly under the finger and grows slowly. You cannot tell for certain by feel alone, which is why the lump is examined and, when it is removed, often sent to a laboratory.
Does every lump need to be removed?
No. A small, quiet lump that has not changed can often be left alone. Removal is usually considered when a lump is growing, keeps becoming inflamed or infected, is uncomfortable, or needs to be identified under a microscope.
Will the cyst come back if it is just drained?
A cyst that is only drained tends to fill again, because the sac that makes the contents is still there. Where removal is done, the aim is to take the whole sac out.
How big will the scar be?
The incision is kept as small as the lump allows, and it is usually placed along the skin’s natural lines where that is possible. Scarring varies between people and between sites, and the doctor will discuss what to expect for your lump.
Will the tissue be tested?
Removed tissue is often sent to a laboratory for examination, which is how the diagnosis is confirmed rather than assumed. You will be told when to expect the result.
When can I go back to normal activity?
Most people are back to ordinary activity within a day or two, avoiding heavy lifting or straining of the area while it heals. You will be given advice for the specific site, and told when the stitches should come out.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed. If the lump needs specialist assessment, the doctor will explain why and arrange it.
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