Fat on the body
A benign tumor, consisting mainly of fat cells, is called a wen or lipoma. Most often, wen are formed under the skin in a single copy and do not cause any negative sensations. Cases of multiple overgrowth of fat cells in soft tissues or internal organs are called lipomatosis. Most often, this pathology is inherited.
Fats tend to gradually increase in size. In the later stages of their development, they can squeeze muscles and nerve endings, disrupt blood supply and motor function, and cause pain and discomfort. Therefore, wen should be disposed of in a timely manner.
Content:
- Reasons for the appearance of wen on the body
- Symptoms of wen on the body
- What is the danger of a wen on the body?
- Diagnostics and indications for removal
- Treatment of a wen on the body
- Prevention
Lipomas usually form in areas of the body with a relatively low content of subcutaneous fat:
- Neck and shoulder girdle;
- Lower back;
- The outer surface of the arms, thighs and legs.
In addition to lipoma, the term "wen" in everyday life can mean other skin pathologies - for example, atheroma, or sebaceous cyst, as well as xanthoma, or yellow plaque. However, these defects have a different origin, symptomatology, favorite localization and appearance. Xanthomas often appear on the eyes, atheromas - on hairy areas of the body and in places of large accumulation of sebaceous glands, and lipomas can form almost everywhere. Their main differences from other lipid formations are their potentially larger size and deeper location.
Reasons for the appearance of wen on the body
There are many studies devoted to finding the causes of the development of wen. Unfortunately, all the factors that directly affect the appearance of fatty tumors have not yet been precisely clarified. It is only known that most often they arise as a result of metabolic failure.
Possible causes of lipoma formation:
- Hereditary factor associated with a mutation of a gene responsible for converting lipids to energy and water;
- Contamination of the body with decay products and toxic substances as a result of pathologies of the kidneys, liver or digestive tract organs;
- Neurotrophic disorders of tissue structure;
- Regular friction, compression or other trauma to a specific area of the body;
- Failure to comply with personal hygiene standards and improper skin care;
- Endocrine disruptions that change metabolism (diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, dysfunction of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland);
- Hormonal imbalance during menopause, pregnancy or puberty.
A catalyst for the rapid growth of a wen can be its mechanical damage, rubbing with shoes or clothes. Irregular and unbalanced diet against the background of alcohol dependence can also become a provoking factor for the appearance of a wen.
Symptoms of wen on the body
Having accidentally discovered a tumor-like formation on their bodies, many tend to exaggerate its danger. Fat is extremely rarely malignant, or transformation into a malignant tumor. Before making an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to differentiate education from atheroma and other similar pathologies.
Wen symptoms - clinical picture:
- Localization - under the top layer of the skin, sometimes deeper;
- Mobility on palpation;
- Painlessness in the early stages and in the absence of inflammation;
- Average size - 0.5-9 cm in diameter, can reach 30 cm;
- The integrity of the skin, the absence of hyperemia;
- Soft consistency;
- The ability to collect the skin over the tumor in a fold;
- Maintaining a satisfactory general condition, absence of pain, weakness, fever.
Large fats cause serious discomfort and a feeling of heaviness. In addition, lipomas on the face and open areas of the body look unaesthetic, provoke negative emotions and complexes. The structure of the wen depends on the filling of its capsule. In addition to lipid cells, connective (fibrolipoma), muscle (myolipoma), vascular (angiolipoma) and even glandular tissue (adenolipoma) are sometimes found in the contents of a fatty tumor. Most often, such formations occur in adults, although in rare cases they occur in children, starting from birth.
What is the danger of a wen on the body?
In the absence of mechanical damage and slow growth, the wen does not pose a health hazard.
Possible complications:
- Inflammation of the capsule of a fatty tumor - soreness, redness of the skin over the wen, the appearance of purulent-bloody discharge;
- A significant increase, leading to discomfort and compression of the surrounding tissue;
- Malignancy of the wen - the formation of liposarcoma.
Any tumor-like formation on the body needs accurate diagnosis and differentiation from other pathologies. If the doctor recommends removing the wen, this must be done. Inflamed wen and tumors with suspected development of a malignant process are subject to urgent enucleation.
Diagnostics and indications for removal
To identify the etiology of the wen, the doctor takes a biopsy of the tissues of this formation. For more in-depth examination of a large lipoma, ultrasound, CT, or MRI is sometimes done. Of great importance is a visual examination of the wen by a qualified specialist, assessment of the size and consistency of the tumor.
Indications for the removal of a wen on the body:
- Fast growth;
- An impressive volume;
- Discomfort when wearing clothes;
- Cosmetic defect;
- Development of the inflammatory process;
- The appearance of signs of compression of the surrounding tissues and a violation of their trophism;
- Multiple lipomatosis.
Treatment of a wen on the body
Small formations are removed in the beautician's office or in the treatment room of the dermatological outpatient clinic. The destruction of large wen is carried out in a surgical hospital under general or local anesthesia. It is necessary to remove them together with the capsule from the connective tissue, since the remaining cells can become the basis for a relapse of the disease.
Methods for removing wen from the body:
- Excision with a scalpel. The skin over the wen is incised, the tumor is removed along with the capsule, drainage is installed (in case of inflammation or removal of a large formation). After such a surgical intervention in open areas of the body, you have to do a second operation to eliminate scars, keloid scars.
- Liposuction of a fatty tumor. Using a lipoaspirator, fat is removed from the capsule. After using this technique, relapses often occur, because the capsule remains in place.
- Endoscopy. Through an incision in the skin under the control of a miniature endoscope, the capsule and its contents are removed. There are no scars and scars after such an intervention, but relapses are possible.
- Cryodestruction. Freezing a lipoma up to 2 cm in diameter with liquid nitrogen vapor, after the intervention, no scars remain.
- Electrocoagulation. Cauterization of a wen on the body using an electric current, the technique is also relevant only in the case of small tumors.
- Radio wave surgery. The operation is carried out under local anesthesia, with a radio knife to remove wen up to 5 cm in diameter together with the capsule. Relapses do not occur, scar tissue does not form.
- Laser surgery. Using a laser beam, a wen is exfoliated with simultaneous coagulation of blood vessels, which eliminates the risk of bleeding. The surrounding tissues are not damaged, the procedure takes no more than 15-20 minutes, it is carried out under local anesthesia.
After the operation, the patient should be under medical supervision for 10-12 days. In the presence of inflammation, an antiseptic treatment of the wound surface is required.
Prevention
There is no specific prophylaxis against the appearance of wen.
How to prevent the appearance of fatty tumors:
- Eat a balanced diet, eat less fatty, sweet, fried foods;
- Drink at least 1.5-2 liters of clean water per day;
- Actively move, play sports;
- Timely treat somatic diseases, pathologies of the endocrine system;
- To refuse from bad habits;
- Carefully take care of your skin;
- Avoid injuries to the body and limbs.
With timely removal and accurate diagnosis, wen on the body does not pose a great danger.
The author of the article: Volkov Dmitry Sergeevich | c. m. n. surgeon, phlebologist
Education: Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry (1996). In 2003, he received a diploma from the Educational and Scientific Medical Center of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation.
