Can a lipoma make you feel ill? Understanding the link between benign fatty tumors and systemic symptoms

September 28, 2025 •

5 min read

While most lipomas are benign and asymptomatic, affecting approximately 1% of the population, certain conditions or locations can cause them to lead to feelings of illness. This guide explores the rare circumstances in which a lipoma can make you feel ill and helps distinguish between a harmless fatty lump and something more serious.

Quick Summary

A typical, superficial lipoma does not make you feel ill, but a large, deep-seated, or painful one can cause discomfort or impact organ function. Systemic symptoms like fever or unexplained fatigue are more commonly associated with misdiagnosed conditions, rare lipoma-related syndromes, or, less frequently, malignant tumors like liposarcomas.

Key Points

Generally Harmless: Most standard, superficial lipomas are benign and do not cause systemic illness or make you feel ill.
Location is Key: Illness-related symptoms can occur if a lipoma is large, deep, and puts pressure on nerves or internal organs like the bowels or heart.
Associated Syndromes: Rare conditions, such as Dercum's disease, feature multiple painful lipomas and may be associated with systemic symptoms like fatigue and confusion.
Rule Out Malignancy: Systemic symptoms like fever, fatigue, and weight loss are not typical of lipomas but can be signs of more serious, malignant tumors like liposarcomas.
Watch for Infection: If a lump becomes hot, red, or painful, and you have a fever, the cause is likely an infection (like an abscess) rather than a benign lipoma.
Seek Evaluation for Changes: Any new or changing lump, especially one that grows rapidly, becomes painful, or is accompanied by systemic symptoms, should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

The General Nature of a Lipoma

For the vast majority of people, a lipoma is an innocuous, slow-growing lump of fatty tissue situated just under the skin. They are soft and doughy to the touch, and you can typically move them easily with slight finger pressure. Found most often on the shoulders, back, and abdomen, these common benign growths are typically painless and cause no health problems. This is because they do not secrete hormones, trigger a systemic immune response, or directly interfere with major bodily systems in their typical presentation. Most people live with a lipoma for years without any noticeable symptoms beyond the physical presence of the lump itself.

When a Lipoma Becomes Problematic

While a standard lipoma won't cause systemic illness, certain situations can lead to localized discomfort or, in rare cases, indirect symptoms of feeling unwell. These instances are largely dependent on the size, location, and specific type of the lipoma, moving beyond the simple, superficial fatty tumor.

Large or Deep Lipomas Causing Pressure

One of the most common reasons a lipoma might lead to uncomfortable symptoms is when it grows large enough or develops deep within the body, causing a "mass effect". A deep-seated lipoma can press on adjacent nerves or internal organs, leading to a variety of symptoms related to the specific area of compression:

Gastrointestinal Lipomas: Lipomas in the small or large intestine can cause obstructive symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or constipation. If the tumor causes bleeding, it could lead to fatigue from blood loss.
Cardiac Lipomas: Though rare, a lipoma growing in or on the heart can cause symptoms like chest pain, fatigue, malaise, or palpitations by interfering with normal cardiac function.
Nerve Compression: A lipoma pushing against a nerve can cause localized pain, numbness, or tingling. While not a systemic illness, this chronic discomfort can affect a person's overall well-being and sense of health.
Airway Compression: In extremely rare cases, a lipoma in the chest can press on the bronchial tubes, causing shortness of breath or a chronic cough.

Rare Lipoma-Related Syndromes

In specific, uncommon conditions, lipomas are part of a broader syndrome that can cause systemic symptoms. Dercum's disease, also known as Adiposis Dolorosa, is a rare disorder characterized by multiple, painful lipomas. Associated symptoms can include general weakness, fatigue, depression, and confusion, though the precise cause for these systemic effects is not fully understood. It is important to note that these are not standard lipoma presentations but specific, rare medical conditions where lipomas are one component of a more complex disease.

How to Tell the Difference: Lipoma vs. Liposarcoma

It is crucial to distinguish a benign lipoma from a malignant tumor called a liposarcoma. While also a fatty tumor, liposarcomas can grow rapidly and invade surrounding tissue. Unlike lipomas, they can also cause systemic symptoms associated with malignancy, including:

Unintended weight loss
Persistent fatigue
Fever
Night sweats

If a lump changes significantly in size, becomes hard, or is fixed to surrounding tissue, it is essential to seek medical evaluation to rule out a more serious condition. This is a key reason why a lipoma might be indirectly linked to feelings of illness, as the symptoms could be from a misdiagnosis.

Differential Diagnosis: Other Conditions that Mimic Lipomas

Symptoms of feeling ill, such as fever or malaise, are often the body's response to infection or inflammation. Standard lipomas do not become infected or inflamed and therefore do not cause these types of systemic signs. If you experience fever, chills, or see the lump become red, hot, or rapidly enlarged, it is highly unlikely that a benign lipoma is the cause. Instead, you may be dealing with another condition that can be confused with a lipoma, such as:

Abscess: A pus-filled pocket resulting from a bacterial infection, which will typically be painful, red, and warm to the touch and can cause fever.
Sebaceous Cyst: These fluid-filled sacs can become infected and inflamed, leading to pain and redness, unlike a typical lipoma.
Hematoma: A collection of blood under the skin from an injury, which can cause swelling and bruising but will eventually resolve.

Comparison Table: Lipoma vs. Liposarcoma


Feature	Lipoma (Benign)	Liposarcoma (Malignant)
Growth Rate	Slow	Can be rapid
Consistency	Soft, doughy, rubbery	Firm or hard
Mobility	Moves easily under the skin	Tends to be fixed or less mobile
Location	Commonly just under the skin (subcutaneous)	Often develops in deeper tissues
Pain	Usually painless, unless pressing on a nerve	Can be painful, especially as it grows
Systemic Symptoms	None (fever, fatigue)	Possible (fever, fatigue, weight loss)

When to Seek Medical Advice

While most lipomas are nothing to worry about, it is always wise to have a doctor evaluate any new or changing lump. You should consult a healthcare professional immediately if you notice any of the following:

The lump is growing rapidly.
The lump is painful or tender.
The lump feels hard and is fixed in place.
The overlying skin becomes red or hot.
You experience systemic symptoms like unexplained fever, weight loss, or persistent fatigue.
The lump is located deep in the abdomen or chest, and you experience new or unusual symptoms like nausea or shortness of breath.

Outbound Link

For more detailed information on benign skin growths, visit the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the National Institutes of Health.

Conclusion

In summary, the question of "can a lipoma make you feel ill?" has a nuanced answer. A typical, small, and superficial lipoma will not cause systemic illness. The feeling of being unwell, or the presence of fever and malaise, should prompt a medical evaluation, as it is likely caused by an underlying issue separate from the lipoma. However, in rare instances, a lipoma's size or location can cause localized pressure, leading to pain or organ-specific symptoms. Furthermore, certain rare syndromes or the possibility of misdiagnosis (such as with a liposarcoma) can also lead to illness-related symptoms. The key is to be aware of the specific signs and to consult a doctor if you have any concerns, especially concerning rapid changes or associated systemic symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

A painful lipoma is typically caused by the growth pressing on a nerve, but the pain itself does not cause systemic illness symptoms like fever. However, chronic pain can affect overall well-being. If a lipoma is painful, it is important to have it evaluated to rule out other causes or complications.

A lipoma is a benign, non-cancerous fatty tumor that is typically soft and movable. A liposarcoma is a rare, malignant (cancerous) fatty tumor that tends to be firmer, grows more rapidly, and is more likely to cause pain and systemic symptoms like weight loss or fatigue.

Yes, in rare cases, a lipoma located deep within the abdomen or on the bowels could cause pressure leading to digestive symptoms like nausea, vomiting, constipation, or abdominal pain.

No, a typical lipoma is not associated with systemic symptoms like fever or chills. If you experience these, the cause is most likely an infection, such as an abscess, rather than the benign fatty growth itself. You should see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

If you have multiple, painful lipomas and also experience fatigue, you may have a rare condition like Dercum's disease. However, standard lipomas don't cause chronic fatigue. A medical evaluation is necessary to determine the cause of your symptoms and rule out other issues.

It is always recommended to see a doctor for any new or changing lump to ensure an accurate diagnosis. While many are benign lipomas, a doctor's examination is the only way to confirm this and to rule out more serious conditions.

A lipoma does not typically become infected or inflamed. Signs of infection include redness, warmth, increased tenderness or pain, and potential fever. If you notice these symptoms, especially with pus, the lump is likely something else, such as an abscess, and requires immediate medical attention.