Cyst Removal

Removes cysts safely, restoring skin's smoothness

Cysts are round, firm, usually pain-free lumps under the skin that can vary considerably in size.

There may be a small hole (punctum) on the skin over the cyst, and in some cases, a white, cheesy and foul-smelling material may be expressed from this hole by compressing the cyst.

Sebaceous cysts are the most common type of skin cyst, and while they usually cause no problems to the patient, in some cases, they can cause discomfort due to their location, appearance or by getting infected.

They occur most commonly on the head and neck area but can affect other hair-bearing areas of the body.

Cyst Surgical Treatments

ASET Hospital are experts in Cyst Removal and offers services as part of our minor surgical skin procedures

Consultant plastic surgeon Mr Hassan Shaaban leads ASET Hospital’s minor surgical skin procedures clinic.

Mr Hassan Shaaban is a fully accredited British-trained NHS consultant plastic surgeon, and his cosmetic surgery career has expanded over 20 years.

Cyst Removal Procedure

Cyst removal is carried out by first injecting a local anaesthetic (numbing the area with an injection).

Once numbed, the overlying skin is opened, and the cyst sac is isolated and removed along with its contents.

The skin is then closed with stitches. If the sac can be removed intact (complete), then there is little chance of the cyst coming back.

However, if the cyst sac is removed in pieces, then there is a risk of the cyst forming again.

This most commonly occurs if the cyst has been infected in the past and, as a result, has scar tissue around it. The scar tissue makes it difficult to remove the cyst intact.

If a cyst is infected, we usually do not attempt its removal until the infection is controlled with appropriate treatment (often antibiotics).

Risks with Cyst Removal

Risks associated with this procedure include:

Haematoma
Infection
Lumpy, wide or red scarring
Painful scarring
Cyst recurrence and indentation at the cyst removal point.

Please note that cyst removal almost always results in a scar. *Individual results may vary.

FAQs

How long will it take to recover from cyst removal?

You can return to work immediately, but the area of operation can take up to 2 weeks to fully heal. *Individual results might vary*

Will the NHS remove my cyst?

A cyst which is considered to be “suspicious” when viewed by a consultant in the NHS would be removed.

However, suppose the consultant considers the cyst to be benign and requests cyst removal for cosmetic reasons. In that case, the NHS consultant may recommend that removal is carried out in the private sector.

When will I be able to drive?

Whenever you feel confident enough to perform an emergency stop without discomfort, you may drive. Please check with your insurance company before you drive.