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Liposurfoma is a proposed name for a soft, fibrofatty growth that develops under the skin of the chest wall or upper abdomen in some long-time surfers. A 2024 case series described seven surfers with usually paired masses where the torso presses against a shortboard during prone paddling. That report does not show that surfers across the United States are developing these growths at an increasing rate: no prevalence or national trend estimate has been published.
What a liposurfoma is
The term was proposed by Paytra A. Klein and colleagues in a 2024 JAAD Case Reports article to bring consistency to earlier descriptions of similar lesions. The authors characterize liposurfomas as acquired subcutaneous fibrolipomas—masses made of fatty (adipose) and fibrous tissue—typically located over the upper abdomen and anterior costal margins. They are often soft, symmetric and bilateral, positioned where a surfer’s chest and upper abdomen contact the board while paddling prone. Read the full case series at PubMed Central.
These are clinical descriptions, not a self-diagnosis. A new lump can have many causes, and a clinician may need an examination, imaging or tissue analysis to identify it.
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Why paddling may be involved
The case-series authors propose repeated, low-intensity compression as the explanation. During prone paddling, tissue at the costal margin can be pressed between the ribs and the hard deck of a shortboard. Their hypothesis is that years of this mechanical stress may trigger a fibrofatty response.
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That mechanism remains unproven. The evidence consists of observations in seven people rather than a controlled comparison of surfers and non-surfers, a laboratory injury study or a prospective follow-up study. Surfing may be relevant in the reported cases, but the study cannot establish that it causes every similar chest or abdominal lump.
What the evidence actually shows
The report covers seven surfers. Three had surgical removal with histologic analysis, two had tumescent liposuction, and two chose observation. Those numbers describe the cases; they are not a success rate or a recommendation that one treatment is superior.
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The authors write that “these lesions are rather common in surfers, as most ‘older, long-time’ surfers know of someone with these soft symmetric growths on the chest.” That is a clinical impression from the authors, not a population measurement. The available evidence does not establish how many US surfers have liposurfomas or whether their frequency is rising. Institutional and specialist coverage, including the UC Irvine School of Medicine newsroom index and a 2026 report in SURFER, likewise does not provide a national incidence estimate.
How liposurfomas differ from other “surfer” lumps
Surfers’ knots
In the case report, “surfers’ knots” refers to dense, hard, callus-like lesions on the knees, feet or toes. They are associated with kneeling on longboards and are anatomically and histologically different from the soft chest-wall fibrolipomas described as liposurfomas.
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Surfer’s bursa
A surfer’s bursa is another rare chest-wall possibility discussed by the authors. It is a bursal lesion, not the fibrofatty growth defined as a liposurfoma. Distinguishing these conditions requires a medical assessment rather than an online photograph or description.
When a chest or belly lump needs medical evaluation
Arrange an appointment for any unexplained mass, especially one that is new, enlarging, painful, firm, fixed, inflamed or associated with skin changes or other symptoms. Seek prompt care if a lump grows quickly or is accompanied by fever, drainage, significant pain or unexplained weight loss. Do not assume a bump is a liposurfoma—or that it is cancer—because it appears in a typical surfing location.
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The case series notes that these growths can be mistaken for other lesions. A clinician may document its size and mobility, use ultrasound or another imaging test when appropriate, and recommend a biopsy or excision when the diagnosis is uncertain. Histology in the reported cases helped identify fibrolipomatous tissue.
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Treatment depends on symptoms, appearance, diagnostic certainty and the person’s willingness to accept an invasive procedure. The seven-case report offers observations, not comparative clinical-trial evidence.
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| Option | Purpose and practical trade-off | What the case series shows |
|---|---|---|
| Observation | Avoids a procedure when the diagnosis is clear and symptoms are limited; the mass remains. | Two people chose no treatment. Lesions may persist or recur if surfing continues. |
| Foam padding in a wetsuit | Reduces direct pressure and soreness during prolonged prone paddling; it is a comfort measure. | Described as potentially easing discomfort, not as proven prevention or reversal. |
| Tumescent liposuction | Less extensive than open excision but technically difficult when tissue is fibrous; residual or recurrent tissue is possible. | Two cases were treated with epinephrine-lidocaine tumescent liposuction. One received additional treatment after slight enlargement while continuing to surf. |
| Surgical excision | Removes the mass and supplies tissue for histologic examination, but creates an incision and visible scar. | Three cases underwent excision with histologic analysis; the paper notes scarring as a trade-off. |
Continuing the same board contact may allow a lesion to persist or return, according to the report. Decisions about padding, changing technique or taking a break from surfing should be discussed with the treating clinician, particularly after a procedure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What surfers can do now
- Notice changes without repeatedly pressing the area. Record when you first noticed the lump, whether it is on one or both sides, and any change in size, tenderness or skin appearance.
- Book a clinical examination. Tell the clinician how often you surf, your board type, paddling position, prior injuries and whether the mass changes after sessions.
- Follow the diagnostic plan. Imaging or tissue sampling may be appropriate when the examination does not establish a benign diagnosis.
- Discuss pressure reduction. If the clinician considers the lesion consistent with a liposurfoma, ask whether temporary activity changes or properly positioned foam padding could reduce soreness. Padding has not been shown to prevent or cure these growths.
- Review recurrence risk before treatment. Ask about scarring, residual fibrous tissue, recovery time and how continued surfing could affect the result.
Bottom line on the US “increase” claim
Clinicians have reported a recognizable pattern of chest-wall fibrofatty growths in surfers and have proposed the name liposurfoma. The strongest available evidence is a seven-person 2024 case series. It supports further awareness and evaluation of unusual lumps, but it does not demonstrate a US-wide rise, establish a prevalence rate or prove that surfing causes them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are liposurfomas cancer?
The reported lesions were described as fibrolipomas, but a person cannot determine the nature of a new lump from its location or feel. A clinician should evaluate it and decide whether imaging or histologic testing is needed.
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Can wetsuit padding prevent a liposurfoma?
The case report describes foam padding as a way to lessen pressure-related soreness. It provides no evidence that padding prevents formation or removes an existing growth.
Will a liposurfoma come back after removal?
The case series notes that lesions may persist or recur when surfing continues. It does not provide a general recurrence rate, so your surgeon should explain the individual risk for the chosen procedure.
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