Concerns · Growths & Lesions · CityLink Mall
Lipoma Removal in Singapore
A lipoma is a soft, slow-growing lump of fat under the skin. It is harmless in most people, but it should be examined, and only a doctor can remove it: SkinRev's body treatments do not shrink lipomas, so Dr Sin Yong assesses and removes them at IN Eternity Clinic.
Written & medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · 8 October 2026
Quick answer
- A lipoma is a soft, slow-growing lump of fat under the skin. It is harmless in most people, but it should be examined, and only a doctor can remove it: SkinRev's body treatments do not shrink lipomas, so Dr Sin Yong assesses and removes them at IN Eternity Clinic.
- Medical, performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic (Pacific Plaza, Orchard): Assessment by Dr Sin Yong, Shave or excision removal by Dr Sin Yong, Minimal-incision excision, Liposuction-assisted removal.
- Assessment first; individual results vary. Medical pricing is given at consultation.
A lipoma is a benign lump made of mature fat cells, usually wrapped in a thin capsule, sitting in the fatty layer under the skin. It feels soft or rubbery, often doughy, moves slightly when pushed, and usually does not hurt. Lipomas grow slowly and are most common on the shoulders, back, neck, arms and trunk, often first noticed between the ages of 40 and 60. Most people seek lipoma removal in Singapore because a lump is getting bigger, shows through clothing, or presses when they lie down or carry a bag.
The cause is not fully understood. Some lipomas run in families, and a few people develop many. They are more common with higher body weight and type 2 diabetes, though slim people get them too. Angiolipomas, a variant with more blood vessels, can be tender to touch. Malignant change in a lipoma is exceedingly rare, but a rare fatty tumour called a liposarcoma, or an atypical lipomatous tumour, can look and feel similar. Lumps that are large, deep, firm, fixed or growing quickly need imaging before anyone removes them.
SkinRev Lab provides non-invasive body contouring, but these treatments act on the general fat layer and do not remove a lipoma, which has its own capsule. Please do not book body sculpting over a lump that has not been examined. If you contact SkinRev, we route you to IN Eternity Clinic, where Dr Sin Yong examines the lump and arranges imaging or onward referral when it is needed.
“A soft lump is usually a lipoma, but 'usually' is not enough: size, depth and growth decide whether it needs a scan before removal.”
— Dr Sin Yong, IN Eternity Clinic
- What it is
- Benign tumour of mature fat cells, usually encapsulated
- Layer
- Subcutaneous fat; occasionally deep to the fascia or within muscle
- Typical size
- About 1 cm to over 10 cm
- Usual age of onset
- 40–60 years
- Imaging flag
- Deep to the fascia, or larger than 5 cm in the fat layer
- Removed by
- Dr Sin Yong, IN Eternity Clinic, with referral when specialist surgery is needed
What goes where
The honest ladder:
non-invasive first, medical when it is needed
At SkinRev Lab · non-invasive
There is no non-invasive treatment at SkinRev Lab that changes this concern. We will say so at the first visit and pass your enquiry to IN Eternity Clinic.
At IN Eternity Clinic · Dr Sin Yong
Assessment by Dr Sin Yong — Dr Sin Yong examines the lump's size, depth, consistency and growth. An ultrasound scan is often used to confirm a superficial lipoma, and lumps that are deep, larger than about 5 cm or atypical are referred for MRI and specialist surgical care. Histology of the removed tissue confirms the diagnosis.
Shave or excision removal by Dr Sin Yong — A small superficial lipoma is removed under local anaesthetic through an incision over the lump, taking out the fat together with its thin capsule, and the skin is stitched. Removing the capsule completely lowers the chance of regrowth.
Minimal-incision excision — Some soft, well-defined lipomas can be delivered through a shorter incision with gentle pressure and dissection, leaving a smaller scar. This is chosen only when the lipoma's size and site allow.
Liposuction-assisted removal — Larger lipomas, or several lipomas, are sometimes reduced with a cannula through a small opening. Scars are smaller, but part of the capsule may remain, so regrowth is more likely than after excision; this is usually a specialist procedure.
Enquiries to SkinRev Lab about medical treatments are passed to IN Eternity Clinic, where Dr Sin Yong performs them.
There is no non-invasive route for lipomas at SkinRev. A small, soft lipoma that does not hurt and is not changing can be left alone once a doctor has examined it. See a doctor if a lump is growing, painful, larger than about 5 cm across, feels firm or fixed, sits deep or under muscle, or reappears after removal; these lumps need imaging and sometimes specialist surgical care. See a doctor too if you have many lumps or a family history of them, or if a lump appeared after an injury and has not settled. Dr Sin Yong assesses lipomas and removes suitable superficial ones at IN Eternity Clinic, and SkinRev can route your enquiry there.
Where this happens
Assessment and non-invasive care — SkinRev Lab, CityLink Mall #B1-28, 1 Raffles Link, Singapore 039393. Underground from City Hall MRT and Esplanade MRT; a short walk from Raffles Place, Marina Bay, Suntec and Bugis. Open daily 11am–8pm.
Medical treatment — IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210, beside Orchard MRT (three stops from City Hall on the North-South line). Mon–Sat 11am–8pm, closed Sunday. Treatments are performed by Dr Sin Yong. WhatsApp +65 8815 3008.
What the research says
The evidence,
with sources
A review in American Family Physician describes lipomas as slow-growing, nearly always benign fatty tumours that are usually non-tender, round, mobile and soft, are most often found on the head, neck, shoulders and back, and usually first appear between 40 and 60 years of age. It advises that most lipomas can be left alone, that rapidly growing or painful ones can be treated, and that lipomas must be distinguished from liposarcoma, which can look similar.
A review of fatty soft-tissue tumours in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends MRI for any soft-tissue mass deep to the fascia or larger than 5 cm in the subcutaneous fat, noting that unplanned removal of sarcomas often follows a presumed diagnosis of lipoma. DermNet adds that surgical excision is curative when the thin capsule is completely removed, while liposuction gives smaller scars but a higher recurrence rate because the capsule is not fully taken out.
References
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
What does lipoma removal in Singapore involve?
After an examination, and sometimes an ultrasound scan, a small superficial lipoma is removed under local anaesthetic through an incision over the lump. The doctor separates the fatty lump and its capsule from the surrounding tissue and closes the skin with stitches. At IN Eternity Clinic, Dr Sin Yong removes suitable lipomas, and larger or deeper ones are referred to a specialist surgeon.
What is the cost of lipoma removal in Singapore?
Pricing is given at consultation at IN Eternity Clinic, after Dr Sin Yong has examined the lump. The cost depends on its size, depth and site, whether imaging or histology is needed, and whether it can be removed in the clinic or needs referral. SkinRev does not remove lipomas, so there is no SkinRev price for lipoma removal.
Do I need to remove a lipoma?
Not always. Many lipomas are small, comfortable and stable, and can simply be watched. Removal is considered when a lipoma grows, hurts, presses on nearby structures, affects movement or appearance, or when the diagnosis is uncertain. Any lump that changes, feels firm, or is large or deep should be examined and scanned rather than ignored.
Can fat-freezing or body contouring shrink a lipoma?
No. Non-invasive fat treatments act on the general fat layer, while a lipoma is a separate lump with its own capsule. Treating over it does not reliably shrink it and can delay a proper diagnosis. That is why SkinRev's body treatments are not used on lipomas, and why any lump should be examined by a doctor first.
Will a lipoma grow back after removal?
Regrowth after complete excision with the capsule is uncommon. It is more likely if part of the capsule remains, as can happen after liposuction or when the lipoma is lobulated or tangled in surrounding tissue. Some people also develop new lipomas elsewhere, which is different from recurrence. Individual results vary.
What is recovery like after lipoma removal?
Most people go home the same day with a dressing and stitches. Expect some soreness and bruising for a few days, and stitches usually come out after about one to two weeks, depending on the site. Avoid heavy lifting or exercise that stretches the wound for a short while. The scar fades gradually over the following months.
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