Surgery for Lipomas should not be Estimated as Simple as Their Name Implies

Mehmet O. Yenidünya Uludağ Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Plastik Rekonstrüktif ve Estetik Cerrahi Bölümü, Görükle, Bursa, Turkiye. e-mail: meogye@hotmail.com INTRODUCTION The primary cells in adipose tissues are lipocytes, and benign tumors arising from them are called lipomas. It is generally thought that surgical removal of lipomas is easier than that of any other soft tissue tumors. This cannot be denied for the lipomas located just under the skin. Even just by doing a simple skin incision, they can be removed as if it is the delivery of an egg without requiring any surgical dissection. But it is certainly not the case for the lipomas located in the submuscular plane. At least for the surgeon who is not aware of the term submuscular lipoma, the operation would become a nightmare because when the operation is started by expecting to find it just under the skin and, it is not found there, it leads to a struggle. This is why it is important to have the knowledge of the term submuscular lipoma and its existence. However, certain lipomatosis cases differ from simple lipomas owing to their existence in many areas in the body. Some lipodystropic syndromes have also been reported. All diseases under this category are basically the lipomas; yet, their treatment may not be as easy as their name implies.