If you have a xanthoma you’d like removed, book a consultation or surgery date now.
We offer rapid access for consultation and short waitlist for surgery.
If you have a referral from your family physician, the consultation fee ($150 + HST) will be waived.
How do I treat xanthomas?
What does xanthoma removal entail?
What is the recovery time?
Is there a cost?
How do I book my surgery?
Xanthoma Removal
What is a cutaneous xanthoma?
A cutaneous xanthoma is a yellowish skin growth from localized fat (lipid) buildup, often signaling an underlying lipid (fat) metabolism disorder like high cholesterol or triglycerides.
The lesions themselves are benign and not dangerous, but I often ask my patients to make sure their family doctor is following their blood levels for any underlying disease.
For most my patients, no treatment is required and these are completely benign. However, they may signal an underlying medical condition and I ask that they see their family physician to ensure this is being properly managed. In cases where their blood work show abnormalities, improving their blood may even reduce the size of the xanthomas.
For xanthomas that do not completely go away with medical treatment, lasers or cryotherapy can remove small lesions. For larger lesions, I recommend surgical excision to remove them.
A small incision is made over the xanthoma. This is typically less than length of the xanthoma. Dissolvable sutures are used to close the incision if required. Some cases, the wound is left open to heal. I often do not have any follow-up scheduled with my patients, but if you have any issues please do not hesitate to call my office.
The benefits of the surgery:
This will remove the xanthoma completely
What are the risks of surgery?
All surgeries will make a scar. Most cases on the eyelid these heal very well and patients do not notice this scar.
All surgeries may cause infection, nerve injury, bleeding, or persistent pain.
Infection ranges from 1-5%. Patients who have diabetes, use nicotine products, or have an autoimmune disease are at higher risks. If you use nicotine products please stop this 4 weeks before and after your surgery. A mild infection may have some increased pain or redness and can be treated with antibiotics. More severe infections may require the wound to be opened up again and long-term IV antibiotics.
Nerve injury to the nerve is always possible although very rare and dependent on the area on the body it is being removed.
There is no significant bleeding from this procedure, but the wound can ooze blood. If this happens, please place firm pressure on the wound for 10 minutes and this should stop. If it does not, please call our office or present to your nearest emergency department for an assessment.
Persistent pain may continue after surgery either due to scar tissue or sensitive nerves after surgery. This often goes away, but can be quite distressing. I will continue to follow you closely until this improves.
Recurrence is always possible and if underlying medical conditions (such as high fats) are not addressed, these most often occur.
Most patients to take 2 weeks to recover. Location of the xanthoma and size are significant factors. Large xanthomas will require more recovery. Some patients may take longer due to scar tissue pain. I ask patients a minimum of one week to let the sutures heal. This is to let the sutures heal the wound. The sutures are strong, but not invincible!
You will be provide with a post-operative instruction sheet to guide you on healing. The sutures will start dissolving between 5-10 days. After four weeks, if the wound has completely healed there are no restrictions.
I ask all my patients to not place their surgical site in any still bodies of water until the wound has healed - this includes bathtubs, jacuzzis, beaches, and no dishes for the next month. (I can write a prescription if your spouse does not believe you!) This is to prevent any infections.
Xanthomas are not covered by OHIP. The size and location of the xanthoma will impact the cost of your surgery
If you have a referral from your family physician, the consultation fee is waived. Otherwise, there will be a consultation fee of $150 + HST.
If you have a xanthoma you would like assessed, we are happy to book you in with rapid access for a consultation and a short waitlist for surgery.
If you would like the consultation fee ($150+HST) waived, please have your family physician send a referral.