Private Lipoma Treatment and Removal on Harley Street, London
London Skin Clinic offers expert lipoma treatment tailored to meet both medical and cosmetic concerns.
Lipoma Removal
Procedure Overview
Expert Lipoma Removal in London
Our experienced skin health consultants use advanced methods, including high-standard surgical removal, to ensure each patient receives safe, effective, and personalised care.
Pricing
Our Prices for Lipoma Removal Services
At London Skin Clinic, transparency is one of our core values. We like to be open with every client from the very start of their journey with us.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with our private lipoma treatments:
Our Price
Book a ConsultationInitial Consultation
£100
Our Price
Book a ConsultationLipoma Removal
£450
Our Price
Book a ConsultationAdditional lipoma removal
£350
Client Success
“From the moment I walked into the clinic, I was treated with warmth and professionalism. Dr Alamouti made me feel completely at ease throughout my procedure. Highly recommend the London skin clinic.“
Before
Healed
What is a Lipoma, and Why Remove It?
A lipoma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumour composed of fatty tissue. Lipomas are typically soft to the touch, movable under the skin, and usually painless. They can develop anywhere on the body where fat cells are present, but they are most commonly found on the shoulders, neck, back, abdomen, arms, and thighs. Lipomas are usually slow-growing and can vary in size, ranging from small (less than an inch) to several inches in diameter.
There are three types of lipoma:
Conventional Lipomas
These contain white fat
Fibrolipomas
Lipomas containing both white fat and fibrous tissue
Angiolipomas
Lipomas consisting of fat and numerous blood vessels
Lipomas are generally harmless, and typically, lipoma treatment is not possible under the NHS unless it is causing functional problems or pain. With that being said, it is important to have any new lumps that form on your body evaluated by a medical professional, to ensure that they are not anything serious.
If it is located in an awkward place to have a lump, having a lipoma removed can improve your confidence or eliminate any pain and discomfort being caused by the growth.
What to Expect from Lipoma Removal
Medical Lipoma Removal Methods
We offer two advanced and tested methods of lipoma removal at London Skin Clinic, methods that have proven results.
Which lipoma removal treatment we provide you with depends on the location of the growth and personal preference. Your options will be explained clearly to you during the first visit to the clinic in your private consultation.
Surgical Excision
This is the most common way to remove a lipoma, as it produces excellent results.
This procedure involves making a small incision in the skin to allow the skin surgeon to surgically excise it.
Surgical lipoma removal treatment is typically done under local anaesthetic to prevent any pain, and you may need small stitches to help with healing.
We ensure that we talk you through the whole process before the treatment begins, and aftercare support is provided to help you achieve the best results from the lipoma removal surgery.
Liposuction
Liposuction lipoma removal offers a less invasive alternative to traditional surgery. This method of treatment involves using a liposuction cannula to extract the fatty tissue, reducing the size of the growth. It can be done under local or general anaesthesia.
While liposuction may seem appealing due to its minimally invasive nature, in reality, it is suitable only for a small subset of cases, primarily large (>10cm) diffuse lipomas. This is because liposuction rarely achieves complete removal of the lipoma without causing contour irregularities.
Plus, if the capsule is not fully excised, the lipoma is likely to recur. Surgical excision is recommended in most cases, as it allows for complete removal and significantly reduces the risk of regrowth.
Excision or Liposuction: What Decides It
Both are offered, but they are not equivalent options presented for preference. The lump decides.
| Excision | Liposuction | |
|---|---|---|
| Removes the capsule | Yes | No |
| Risk of regrowth | Low | Higher — residual capsule is the reason lipomas recur |
| Tissue available for laboratory examination | Whole specimen | Fragmented |
| Contour result | Predictable | Irregularity is common |
| Mark left | A line, usually shorter than the lipoma is wide | Small entry point |
| Suits | Most lipomas | A narrow group — mainly large diffuse lipomas over about 10 cm |
The incision is generally shorter than people expect, because fatty tissue delivers through an opening smaller than the width of the lump. Where the site allows, it follows a natural skin crease.
What Is Checked Before Anything Is Removed
Most fatty lumps are exactly what they appear to be. The reason a new or changing one is still examined properly is that a liposarcoma — a malignant tumour of fatty tissue — can resemble a lipoma on the surface. It is uncommon, and the features that separate the two are recognisable.
- Size. A lump larger than about 5 cm warrants closer assessment than a small one.
- Depth. A lipoma sits in the fat just under the skin and moves freely. One that feels fixed, or lies deep to the muscle fascia, is a different proposition.
- Rate of growth. Lipomas grow slowly over years. Something that has changed noticeably over months is assessed differently.
- Consistency. Soft and doughy is typical. Firm or hard is not.
- Pain. Most lipomas are painless unless they press on a nerve. Persistent pain is worth investigating.
Where any of these apply, imaging is arranged before surgery rather than after, because the imaging changes how the operation is planned. This is the part of the service that does not appear on a price list, and it is the part that matters most.
Cost, and What Is Charged Separately
Removal is £450 for the first lipoma and £350 for each additional lipoma taken at the same appointment. The consultation is £100. Every figure is quoted before treatment, so the cost of the appointment is known before it starts.
More than one lipoma can usually be dealt with in a single visit. What sets the limit is not a fixed number but the sites involved, how much tension the wounds will be under, and the total dose of local anaesthetic — which is discussed at the consultation rather than guessed at now.
Where the NHS Sits
The NHS removes lipomas that cause functional problems, pain or diagnostic concern. It does not generally remove one for appearance, which is why most cosmetic lipoma removal is self-funded. If a lump is growing quickly, feels fixed or deep, or is painful, an urgent assessment through a GP is the right route and paying privately does not move that case forward faster.
Where the Appointment Takes Place
Lipoma consultations and removal are carried out at 101 Harley Street, London W1G 6AH, a short walk from Regent’s Park, Great Portland Street and Oxford Circus. London Skin Clinic also runs clinics in St Albans and Guildford, where the full range of surgical procedures — excision and shave removal — is carried out. Laser treatment and photographic mole mapping are available at Harley Street only.
Every removal is performed by a consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register — the assessment, the operation and the follow-up are carried out by the same person.
Lipoma Removal FAQs
Common Questions About Lipoma Removal
When should a lipoma be removed?
Lipomas are typically removed for the following reasons:
- Pain or Discomfort: If a lipoma is causing pain or pressing on nerves or other structures, removal may be recommended.
- Cosmetic Reasons: Some people choose to have lipomas removed for cosmetic reasons, especially if they are large or located in visible areas.
- Functional Impairment: If the lipoma interferes with normal movement or function, removal may be necessary.
- Suspicion of Malignancy: If there is any concern that the lipoma could be malignant or if it is rapidly growing, removal and biopsy may be advised.
When should I see a doctor about my lipoma?
You should see a doctor if:
- The lipoma becomes painful or tender.
- It grows rapidly or changes in appearance.
- It causes discomfort or restricts movement due to its size or location.
- You are concerned about the possibility of it being cancerous.
A doctor can evaluate the lipoma, usually through physical examination, and may recommend imaging tests or a biopsy if there is any uncertainty about the diagnosis.
Are lipomas dangerous?
Lipomas are generally harmless and do not pose a health risk. However, in rare cases, a lipoma may become painful or press on nerves or other structures, causing discomfort. Although exceedingly rare, a lipoma could be mistaken for a liposarcoma, which is a malignant tumour of fatty tissue. For this reason, any lump that grows rapidly, changes in texture, or becomes painful should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Why do people develop lipomas?
The exact cause of lipoma development is not well understood, but common factors can include:
- Genetics: Lipomas can be hereditary, and often run in families.
- Trauma: Some lipomas may develop following an injury, although this is not always the case.
- Medical Conditions: Certain conditions, like familial multiple lipomatosis, are associated with the development of multiple lipomas.
You’re in safe hands
Our private practice is run by two highly accredited consultant plastic surgeons who both have vast experience performing lipoma removal treatment, having worked for the NHS and privately.
All of London Skin Clinic’s small, select team of surgeons are on the General Medical Council specialist register. You can rest assured that your treatment will be administered by highly trained, skilled specialists who are experts in their field of clinical care.
The Questions Patients Actually Ask
Could it be cancer?
“Most fatty lumps are simple lipomas, but it is possible that any abnormal growth can be cancer however low the chance. Rest assured I have treated thousands of lipomas and have worked in specialist sarcoma units so you are in very safe hands.” — Mr Onur Gilleard. In this practice, which removes 300 to 500 lipomas a year, a fatty lump has turned out to be something other than a simple lipoma once in five years. Every specimen removed is sent for histopathology — every one, not a selected few.
When would you scan it before operating?
Where the lump is over 5 cm, sits deep to the fascia or is hard to define on examination, has grown over weeks to months rather than years, feels firm, irregular or fixed rather than soft and mobile, is persistently painful without another explanation, or where there is any diagnostic uncertainty at all. Ultrasound is done in-house at 101 Harley Street by a consultant radiologist, frequently on the same day; MRI is preferred where the lump is deep, large or the ultrasound is inconclusive. Anything with features suspicious for a sarcoma is referred directly to a specialist sarcoma unit rather than removed here.
Can you just drain it?
No. A lipoma is a solid collection of fatty tissue, not a fluid-filled lump. Draining it will not remove it — the fatty tissue and its capsule have to be excised.
Will it come back?
Removed completely with its capsule, recurrence runs at under 1%. Where part of the capsule is left behind the chance is considerably higher — which is why liposuction, which does not take the capsule, recurs in 30 to 50% of cases and is used here only one to three times a year, for diffuse back lipomas where the patient accepts that trade-off.
I have twelve of them. Can you do them all?
Yes, but the safe dose of local anaesthetic in a single session sets the limit — typically one to three lipomas at a time, with the most in one sitting being six to eight. For a dozen, that means either a general anaesthetic, or splitting the work across two appointments under local. About 30 to 40% of patients have more than one lipoma, so this comes up often.
Will the NHS remove it?
Usually not. Lipomas are not routinely removed on the NHS unless they are causing significant functional symptoms. If your GP has told you that, they are right.
How long does it take, and how sore is it afterwards?
A straightforward excision takes about 45 minutes in the room. Soreness lasts two to seven days, with tenderness settling over one to two weeks, and is normally managed with paracetamol and / or ibuprofen. Walking is immediate; gym, heavy lifting and strenuous stretching wait two weeks for most small lipomas, three to four for larger ones.
Should I have it removed at all?
Not necessarily. “A lipoma that is small, stable, painless and not bothering someone often does not need treatment. Surgery is a balance between the benefit of removing it and the fact that every operation creates a scar.” Most people who go ahead do so because the lump is uncomfortable or they dislike how it looks.
Where It Is Done, and What Changes the Price
Lipoma removal is carried out at all three clinics — 101 Harley Street, St Albans and Guildford. General anaesthetic cases are done at Harley Street only, in the clinic’s own theatre with its own anaesthetists. A lipoma that is large, deep to muscle, or in the head and neck area is therefore usually booked there from the start.
A general anaesthetic is recommended where the lipoma is very large (roughly over 10 to 15 cm), lies deep to the fascia, is fixed rather than mobile, sits close to major nerves or vessels, or where imaging has shown atypical features. This is not a referral — it is the same surgeon in a different setting.
| Superficial lipoma under 5 cm | £450 (each additional at the same visit £350) |
|---|---|
| General anaesthetic case | Quoted individually — accounts for the anaesthetist, a surgical assistant where needed, specialist equipment and total theatre time |
| Histology | £180, charged separately |
| Ultrasound, where indicated | £350 — arranged and charged separately by the clinic, done in-house at Harley Street by a consultant radiologist, often on the same day |
| MRI, where indicated | Arranged by the patient |
Nothing is charged that is not on this list — and everything on it is quotable before the appointment. Note that the ultrasound and the histology are separate charges, not folded into the removal fee.
Keep up to date
Related Insights About Lipoma Removal
Book a Consultation
If you’re concerned about a lipoma or considering removal for cosmetic reasons, get in touch with London Skin Clinic to book a private consultation.
Our experienced team is committed to delivering personalised care.
Whether you’re interested in lipoma removal, want to view visual examples of treatment results, or need details about Bupa-covered procedures, we’re here to support you and answer any questions you may have.
