How long does the operation to remove a wen on the head take?

General information

Wen can appear on any part of the human body, but most often it appears on the head, this is due to the fact that a large number of sebaceous glands are concentrated in the scalp.

At its core, a lipoma (fat) is a benign formation, which is a piece of adipose tissue. It develops as a result of obstruction of the sebaceous glands, and most often occurs in people with problems with the kidneys, liver, digestion, or metabolic disorders in the body.

Important! If the formation is removed in a timely manner, it is not at all dangerous to health.

In some cases, lipoma is confused with atheroma, another disease that is very similar to a wen both in appearance and in composition. But a wen forms under the skin, while atheroma is located in the skin itself, this explains its immobility and is different from a moving wen.

Types of wen

All known types of tumors are named according to the type of tissue from which they grow:

1. 
   Lipoma is an abnormal increase in fat cells that are enclosed in a capsule. In appearance, the wen looks like a small ball under the skin, relatively mobile and soft. At the first stage of development, a lipoma on the head does not pose any danger. The insidiousness of this tumor is that when it is damaged by washing or combing, a wound surface remains, which is an open gate for fungal or bacterial infections to enter the body with a favorable environment already prepared for the reproduction and growth of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, one should not exclude the fact that a lipoma at any time can transform from a benign neoplasm into a malignant tumor - liposarcoma.

2. Although atheroma also consists of the same adipose tissue as lipoma, it differs from the latter in that it is an increase in the tissue of the sebaceous gland itself. This is actually a cyst that forms in the thickness of the skin. An important property of atheroma is that it belongs to those few types of neoplasms that never turn into cancer. At the same time, atheroma, with even minor damage, is more prone to inflammation, and suppuration appears in it much more often.

People tend to want to get rid of a lump But surgeons recommend, regardless of whether the tumor is bothering you or not, to consult a doctor as quickly as possible when the very first signs of a tumor appear.

This is due to the fact that there are several types of lipomas, the most dangerous of which is myelolipoma. This tumor growth affects both adipose tissue and blood vessels. It is myelolipomas that cause many complications, and also more often than other types they turn into a malignant tumor.

Reasons for appearance

The reasons why an unattractive bump may appear on your head are different.

In some cases, the pathology develops due to improper functioning of the sebaceous glands, in others it is a consequence of improper lipid metabolism, and thirdly, the impetus for the development of a wen is a genetic predisposition.

There are a number of other provoking factors that can also trigger the appearance of a wen:

• diseases of the endocrine system;
• hormonal imbalances;
• pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract;
• predominance of fatty foods in the diet;
• frequent stress;
• bad habits;
• increased sweating;
• weak immune system;
• inactive lifestyle;
• lack of proper hygiene;
• harmful production conditions;
• intoxication processes.

Despite such a variety of provoking factors, their presence does not necessarily lead to the formation of a wen.

Symptoms

The clinical picture in the presence of a wen is almost completely absent. The main symptom is a cosmetic defect.

It must be said that the subcutaneous wen in the hairline area does not hurt, but this cannot be said about other lipomas that develop on internal organs.

Internal wen can put pressure on organs, interfering with their normal functioning and cause quite severe symptoms. The size of lipomas on the head can be different , the formation can be single or multiple.

Important! Painful sensations in the wen can only occur if nervous tissue is involved in its composition. This is quite a rare occurrence.

A lipoma can be visually recognized by the following signs:

• the skin over the formation is smooth and identical in color to the intact tissue;
• when pressed, the lipoma feels mobile, elastic and soft;
• It is not possible to remove the lipoma by falling out, since it is surrounded by a capsule consisting of connective tissue.

Symptoms

Clinical picture of a fatty tumor on the head:

• the appearance of a compaction protruding above the surface of the skin. The formation has a dense but soft consistency;
• the presence of clear boundaries;
• spherical shape;
• absence of pain, inflammation of the wen and itching;
• when pressed, the wen on the head moves, but returns to its original place;
• the diameter varies from 1.5 to 10 cm (tumors of this size are extremely rare).

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Tiny fatty tumors cannot always be diagnosed visually. A rapidly growing tumor can cause pain and a feeling of skin tightness. The reason for this is compression of blood vessels and nerve endings.

How to get rid of it?

Wen can be treated only after consultation with a doctor . During the examination, the specialist will analyze the contents of the lipoma for cytology and histology. In the course of these studies the nature of education will be determined. If malignant cells are detected in the lipoma tissue, the patient is referred to an oncologist for further treatment. Under this condition, touching the tumor, much less carrying out any manipulations on it, is very dangerous.

If the tumor is benign, then the lipoma can be removed surgically or by injecting a special drug that can resolve fatty deposits. Several such procedures are required until the wen completely disappears; in some cases, such treatment is delayed for several months.

If the tumor cannot be removed using a minimally invasive method, the doctor may suggest surgical treatment. This intervention is performed under general anesthesia. The doctor makes an incision in the skin, pumps out the contents of the wen and removes its capsule. After surgery, a scar remains on the skin.

There are alternative ways to remove lipoma:

1. Laser therapy . A laser beam is directed onto the surface of the wen, which leads to the destruction of the seal. This is a painless procedure that leaves no scars or scars.
2. Endoscopy . In this case, fat deposits are pumped out using a special device. This procedure is not performed in cases where the lipoma compresses blood vessels or nerves.
3. Liposuction is another way to get rid of fatty tissue, which also does not leave behind any charms. The disadvantage of the procedure is frequent relapses.

Important! Alternative methods are relatively safe and are suitable for different categories of patients, however, they should only be prescribed by a doctor after diagnostic measures.

Treatment

The main treatment method for lipoma is surgery.

In the early stages of tumor development, drug treatment is also used. It consists of injecting the drug Diprospan into the wen capsule, which leads to the resorption of adipose tissue.

How to remove a wen on the head

Excision of lipoma with a scalpel

Surgical removal (excision) of a fatty tumor is a radical treatment method. It is carried out in a medical facility. Surgery practically guarantees the absence of relapses.

The surgeon makes a small incision with a scalpel to expose the lipoma capsule. With scissors, he excises the wen along with the membrane. After removing the lipoma, a suture is applied.

This treatment method is highly traumatic. Excision with a scalpel is carried out only on large tumors and neoplasms located in easily accessible places and interfering with the normal functioning of organs, tissues and systems.

To prevent postoperative complications, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed. The stitches are removed after 10-15 days. After about four weeks, the patient becomes fully able to work.

Endoscopic removal

An endoscope is inserted under the skin through a micro-incision and, using special miniature instruments, the wen is removed under video control. Trauma to the patient is minimal.

Laser and radio wave methods for removing wen

Laser lipoma removal is a safe and minimally invasive treatment method.

During the procedure, the doctor cuts the affected area of ​​skin with a laser, exposes the lipoma capsule, fixes it with medical clamps and carefully removes it. The edges of the incision are closed with adhesive tape.

Removing wen using the radio wave method is recommended if they have a medium-sized diameter not exceeding six centimeters. An electrocoagulator, which is a tungsten filament under voltage, cuts tissue. After the procedure, the doctor will stitch or use an adhesive plaster. The radio wave method does not injure the skin, the skin heals without the formation of scar tissue. The risk of bleeding is minimal, since coagulation (blood clotting in damaged vessels) occurs during the procedure.

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Liposuction

The method involves suctioning fat from the tumor with a needle. A fat thinning drug is first injected into the wen. The capsule remains intact. Therefore, there is a high risk of lipoma re-formation.

Lipoma in children

In young children, fatty tumors can develop on any part of the body, including the scalp. If several lipomas appear, the child is diagnosed with lipomatosis. The clinical picture and treatment methods are the same as in adults.

It is impossible to prevent the formation of wen in childhood. Parents should closely monitor the condition of the skin, instill hygiene skills in their child, and adjust the diet by reducing the amount of sweets and foods rich in animal fats.

Under no circumstances try to squeeze out the wen yourself, and do not treat your child’s skin with alcohol-containing lotions.

One of the safest methods of treating a wen on a child’s head is liposuction. It has virtually no side effects. The doctor makes a puncture and injects a drug that thins the fat. Next, the contents of the capsule are pumped out. The main advantage of liposuction is the absence of scars and rapid healing.

Traditional medicine in the fight against lipoma

Be sure to consult with a specialist if you are going to treat a large wen using alternative medicine recipes. The use of folk recipes is permissible only in the initial stages.

Effective methods for treating wen on the head at home:

1. Take a clove of garlic, chop it and mix it with lard. The resulting mixture is used to lubricate the lipoma.
2. The tumor is treated with aloe juice, or simply a cut leaf is applied to the skin.
3. Eat one teaspoon of ground cinnamon daily.
4. A head of onion is baked in the oven, mixed with grated laundry soap and a compress from this mixture is applied.
5. The garlic is cut, fixed over the lipoma with an adhesive plaster and left overnight.
6. Iodine and 9% vinegar (in a one to one ratio) are mixed and applied to the fatty tumor using a cotton swab three times a day.

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Should it be deleted?

There are indications for removing wen:

• unaesthetic appearance, which leads to a decrease in patient confidence;
• large sizes, resulting in pressure on surrounding tissues and deterioration in their nutrition;
• old wen may die due to impaired blood supply. The wen can rot, which leads to infection of the formation;
• rapid growth of education.

If the wen is small in size, does not tend to grow, does not cause discomfort and does not become inflamed, it does not need to be removed.

Is it dangerous?

To find out whether a wen is dangerous, you need to visit a doctor . Only a specialist can accurately determine the nature of the lipoma and decide whether such a formation needs to be treated. A benign wen can be dangerous due to infection. Considering that this article discusses wen located on the scalp, a lipoma can be easily injured with a comb.

In addition, there is a risk of transformation of a lipoma into liposarcoma, but this possibility can only be determined by a qualified specialist based on the tests performed.

What to do if the wen bursts?

The wen may burst in the following cases:

• wearing a headdress that constantly puts pressure on education;
• lipoma injury.

A burst wen is a dangerous phenomenon, and in order to avoid serious consequences, it is necessary to take a number of measures:

• it is necessary to remove the liquid that is released from the lipoma with a sterile napkin;
• treat the wound with a disinfectant;
• apply a sterile swab with Levomekol to the wound;
• consult a doctor who will prescribe the necessary treatment.

Lipoma on the head: treatment with folk remedies

Provided that the wen does not increase and does not cause pain when pressed, you can use traditional methods of treatment:

• Apply a compress of Kalanchoe juice to the tumor overnight, repeat for a week.
• Soak gauze in a strong decoction of celandine, apply to the lipoma and secure with a band-aid overnight.
• Crush the onions baked in the oven until smooth and add grated laundry soap. Apply the paste to the tumor, a new compress every day.
• Soak a cotton swab in vodka, wipe the formation several times, secure the swab with a band-aid overnight.

Which doctor should I contact?

With a wen, you need to go to an appointment with a therapist or surgeon. These specialists will refer the patient for diagnosis and, if necessary, prescribe treatment or redirect to specialized specialists.

An urgent visit to a doctor is necessary if the formation becomes red-purple, actively grows and hurts when pressed. Also, do not postpone a visit to the doctor if the lump appears in a place where lymph nodes are concentrated - in the groin area, in the armpit, under the jaw, on the inside of the knee or elbow.