[1] Risk factors include family history, obesity, and lack of exercise.

These studies support prior epidemiologic data in humans showing a correlation between HMG I-C and mesenchymal tumors.

[19] Lipomatosis is believed to be a hereditary condition in which multiple lipomas are present on the body.

[citation needed] Adiposis dolorosa (Dercum disease) is a rare condition involving multiple painful lipomas, swelling, and fatigue.

However, current literature demonstrates that Dercum disease is present in more women than men of all body types; the average age for diagnosis is 35 years.

They are usually removed for cosmetic reasons if they grow very large or for histopathology to verify that they are not a more dangerous type of tumor such as a liposarcoma.

[28] Liposuction is another option if the lipoma is soft and has a small connective tissue component.

Liposuction typically results in less scarring; however, with large lipomas, it may fail to remove the entire tumor, which can lead to regrowth.

[27][30] Other potential methods based on tissue-targeted heating include cauterization, electrosurgery, and harmonic scalpel.

[31] Patients who have a lipoma removed are usually able to return home the same day, without any need for hospitalization.

Liposarcoma is found in 1% of lipomas and is more likely to occur in lesions of the lower extremities, shoulders, and retroperitoneal areas.

Other risk factors for liposarcoma include large size (>5 cm), associated with calcification, rapid growth, and/or invasion into nearby structures or through fascia into muscle tissue.

[27] Cutaneous lipomas are rare in children, but these tumors can occur as part of the inherited disease Bannayan-Zonana syndrome.