Lipoma Removal London 2026. Doctor-Led Excision With On-Site Ultrasound at The Online GP by The Wellness
Last updated July 2026. Medically reviewed by GMC-registered doctors at The Online GP by The Wellness, Marylebone.
Lipoma removal in London starts from £595 at The Online GP by The Wellness, where a GMC-registered doctor assesses the fatty lump, arranges doctor-performed ultrasound on site where needed, and excises suitable lipomas complete with their capsule under local anaesthetic near Baker Street. Histology on the removed tissue is recommended and available from £250. The NHS rarely removes lipomas unless they cause significant problems. Same-day assessment is routinely available.
Enquire about lipoma removal on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com. You can also call +44 20 3951 3429.
What is a lipoma
A lipoma is a benign lump made of mature fat cells clustered within a thin fibrous capsule, sitting in the layer of soft tissue between the skin and the muscle. Lipomas are common, grow slowly, and typically feel soft, dough-like, and mobile under the fingers, most often on the shoulders, neck, back, arms, trunk, and thighs. They range from pea-sized to several centimetres, and while a single lipoma is usual, some people develop several. Lipomas are harmless in themselves and there is no medical pressure to remove a small, stable, painless one. People choose removal because a lipoma is visible, uncomfortable to lie or lean on, pressing on surrounding tissue, growing, or simply an unwelcome lump they would rather not live with, particularly on the forehead, neck, or arms where clothing does not hide it.
When a fatty lump needs proper assessment first
Most lipomas can be diagnosed confidently by an experienced doctor on examination. A minority of lumps need imaging before anything is removed, and this is where doctor-led care earns its place. A lump that is larger than five centimetres, deep, firm rather than soft, painful, fixed to underlying tissue, or growing quickly warrants an ultrasound scan first, and sometimes MRI, because very rarely a fatty lump is not a lipoma but a liposarcoma, a malignant tumour of fat cells that can look deceptively similar. At The Online GP by The Wellness, doctor-performed ultrasound is available on site through the same Marylebone clinic, so a lump that needs imaging gets it within one pathway rather than a separate referral. Anything with concerning features is referred urgently through the appropriate NHS pathway in line with NICE guidance rather than removed cosmetically.
Book a lipoma assessment on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
How lipoma removal works
Surgical excision is the definitive treatment for almost all lipomas. Under local anaesthetic, the doctor makes an incision over the lump, planned along natural skin lines where possible, gently separates the encapsulated lipoma from the surrounding tissue, and removes it whole with its capsule. Because lipomas are well-defined, they typically shell out cleanly. The wound is closed in layers with fine stitches and dressed, and the whole procedure takes roughly thirty to sixty minutes depending on size and site. Complete capsule excision is what keeps recurrence low, in the region of one to two percent, whereas techniques that leave capsule behind carry meaningfully higher regrowth rates. We recommend histology on excised lipomas, available from £150 per specimen, because laboratory analysis is the only way to confirm the benign diagnosis definitively, and the specimen exists precisely because the lump was excised whole.
Recovery and results
Lipoma removal is a walk-in, walk-out day procedure. The area feels tender for a few days, which settles with simple pain relief, and most patients are back to normal daily activities within a day or two. Stitches, where non-dissolving, are removed after seven to fourteen days depending on the site, and heavy lifting or strenuous exercise involving the area is best avoided for around two weeks to protect the healing wound. The scar is a fine line roughly related to the size of the lipoma, which matures and fades over six to twelve months, and sun protection over the healing scar improves the final result. Because the lipoma is removed complete with its capsule, the same lump does not return, although people prone to lipomas can develop new ones elsewhere over time, and these can be assessed and treated in the same way.
Is lipoma removal available on the NHS
Usually not. The NHS removes lipomas mainly where there is pain, functional restriction, rapid growth, or diagnostic uncertainty, and a benign, stable lipoma removed for appearance falls outside routine funding, consistent with the NHS England Evidence-Based Interventions programme. Even eligible patients often face a referral, then imaging, then a separate surgical wait. For the common situation of a visible or annoying benign lipoma, private excision is the practical route, and The Online GP by The Wellness provides the doctor-led version with assessment, on-site ultrasound where needed, excision, and histology in one pathway from a Marylebone clinic minutes from Baker Street.
How much does lipoma removal cost in London
London lipoma removal is priced by size, depth, and site. Private hospitals in St John's Wood charge from around £725, consultant plastic surgery clinics in Marylebone from around £695, consultant-led skin surgery clinics from around £495, and across the wider market small superficial lipomas run roughly £350 to £750, with larger or multiple lipomas from £1,000 to £2,500 and histology adding around £150 to £200 where used.
At The Online GP by The Wellness, lipoma removal starts from £595 for a small, superficial lipoma. This price includes the GMC-registered doctor consultation, local anaesthetic, complete excision of the lipoma with its capsule, layered closure, dressings, and aftercare. Larger, deeper, or multiple lipomas are quoted precisely at assessment, doctor-performed ultrasound is available on site where the lump needs imaging first, and histology is recommended and available from £250 per specimen.
Ask about lipoma removal pricing on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
Why patients choose The Online GP by The Wellness
The Online GP by The Wellness is a doctor-led private medical group in Marylebone, minutes from Baker Street and adjacent to Harley Street. Fatty lumps are assessed by a GMC-registered doctor, with doctor-performed ultrasound available on site for any lump that needs imaging before removal, complete capsule excision as the standard technique, and histology from an accredited laboratory recommended on excised tissue. Lumps with concerning features are referred urgently rather than removed cosmetically. The clinic runs a dedicated minor procedures list with same-day assessment, holds more than 187 five-star reviews, and offers consultations with multilingual doctors.
Frequently asked questions
Is a lipoma dangerous? No. A lipoma is a benign lump of fat cells and does not turn into cancer. Very rarely a fatty lump is a different condition, which is why lumps that are large, deep, firm, painful, or growing quickly are imaged and assessed properly before any removal.
Will the lipoma come back after removal? The removed lipoma does not return when it is excised complete with its capsule, with recurrence in the region of one to two percent. People prone to lipomas can develop new ones elsewhere, which can be treated the same way.
Does lipoma removal hurt? The local anaesthetic injection stings briefly, then the procedure is painless. Tenderness for a few days afterwards settles with simple pain relief, and most people are back to normal activities within a day or two.
Do I need a scan before removal? Not always. Typical small, soft, mobile lipomas can be diagnosed on examination. Lumps over five centimetres, or that are deep, firm, painful, fixed, or growing quickly, have an ultrasound first, which we perform on site.
Do I need a referral? No referral is required. You can book a consultation and assessment directly with The Online GP by The Wellness in Marylebone.
Book lipoma removal in Marylebone
The Online GP by The Wellness provides doctor-led lipoma removal near Baker Street, with on-site ultrasound where needed, complete capsule excision from £595, and histology from £250.
Enquire now on WhatsApp, email team@thewellnesslondon.com, or call +44 20 3951 3429.
References
NHS. Lipoma. Patient information. Updated 2024. NICE. Guideline NG12. Suspected cancer, recognition and referral, soft tissue sarcoma section. Updated 2023. Primary Care Dermatology Society. Lipoma. Updated 2024. NHS England. Evidence-Based Interventions Programme, version 4.0. September 2024. Royal College of General Practitioners. Curriculum for general practice, minor surgery module. Updated 2024.
