Lumps appearing a few weeks after chin lipolysis injections
k · · Last reply 🌐 繁中
About 3 months ago, I had fat-dissolving injections in my chin area. I didn't feel any discomfort at the time. About 3 weeks after the injection, I noticed a small lump in my jawline. At first, I thought it was just a swollen lymph node due to stress, so I visited a general practitioner and took anti-inflammatory medication. Since there were no other symptoms, I didn't pay much attention to it. Another month passed, and after things settled down, I realized the lump was still there and had actually grown larger. Because the jawline is near the throat, I’ve also started feeling a sense of pressure.
I immediately saw an ENT specialist, had an ultrasound, and underwent a fine-needle aspiration. However, the report could not confirm whether the lump was benign or malignant, so I need to schedule a repeat biopsy using a core needle.
Currently, I only have the ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration reports. If this lump was caused by the fat-dissolving injections, what specific characteristics should I look for in the report? How can this be treated? Is this a common complication?
Thank you, Doctor.
1 Replies
Dr. Ta-Ju Liu · Board-certified dermatologist🌐 繁中 Doctor
Hello, I am Dr. Liu.
Direct Answer: A lump that appeared about three weeks after chin lipolytic injections, has persisted without resolving, and is even growing in size, is indeed very likely a fibrous nodule resulting from fat necrosis and inflammatory reactions caused by the lipolytic injections. However, the most important step right now is to complete a core needle biopsy. Do not simply assume it is merely a lump caused by the lipolytic injections just because you had the procedure done.
Possibilities That Need to Differentiated
Lipolytic injections work by destroying fat cells. If the local reaction is strong, the medication is unevenly distributed, or the necrotic tissue is not successfully absorbed, it can leave behind lumps, nodules, or even a sensation of pressure. On ultrasound, irregular hypoechoic or mixed-echogenicity masses within the subcutaneous fat layer are sometimes visible, potentially accompanied by fibrosis, liquefaction, or surrounding inflammation—however, these imaging findings are not exclusive to fat necrosis. Lymph nodes, salivary gland lesions, infections, or other soft tissue tumors can sometimes look very similar. Situations like this are actually not uncommon in revision clinics.
General Management Approach
- Having an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist arrange a repeat puncture or switch to a core needle biopsy is reasonable in my opinion: fine-needle aspirations sometimes only aspirate inflammatory cells or necrotic debris, yielding an inconclusive report; a core needle biopsy can obtain more complete tissue to confirm whether it is purely fat necrosis, chronic inflammation, or other pathologies.
- If pathology confirms that it is a hardened nodule of fat necrosis following lipolytic injections, and it has persisted for months, gradually grown, or caused pressure symptoms, anti-inflammatory medications alone usually will not make it disappear. This type of necrotic and fibrotic tissue typically requires high-frequency ultrasound first to confirm its location, depth, and relationship with surrounding blood vessels, nerves, and salivary glands, followed by an evaluation for minimally invasive pinhole extraction. The extracted tissue will also be sent for pathological examination.
- Waiting for the pathological results to be confirmed before deciding on the next step is the safer approach.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention
If you recently experience a significantly worsening sensation of pressure, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, fever, redness, swelling, pain, or rapid enlargement of the lump, do not wait—please return to the ENT department or emergency room as soon as possible.
This online response is for general health education and does not constitute a diagnosis, nor can it replace an in-person consultation and ultrasound examination.