Insurance companies cover lipomas. In most circumstances, this surgery may be performed easily under local anesthetic, with most patients returning to work the next day. I would recommend that you identify a board-certified cosmetic surgeon with substantial expertise in lipoma removal through the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This person should have access to the latest techniques and equipment for this procedure. In general, the best candidates for this procedure are people who have no other options left for treating their condition, such as those who have failed traditional treatments like medications or physical therapy. However, if you can afford to wait, there are alternative therapies that may be used in conjunction with plastic surgery to reduce the size of your lipoma or eliminate it entirely. The benefits of surgical removal of lipomas outweigh the risks associated with this procedure. The risk of infection is extremely low, usually occurring at the site of old injuries or scars. There is a slight increase in the risk of developing cancer of the skin near lipomas, but this risk is very small compared to the risk of developing cancer elsewhere in the body. Lipomas are common tumors that develop within fatty tissue. They are not cancerous and do not spread to other parts of the body. On average, one person in five has at least one large lipoma (greater than 2 centimeters).