Pilonidal Cyst surgery

Pilonidal cysts usually occur when a hair punctures the skin and becomes ingrown. If they become infected, the abscess that forms causes a lot of pain and burning in the area.

There are various techniques to alleviate the discomfort of the cyst. Initially, it can be drained through a small incision. If the initial treatment is ineffective, specialists recommend surgically removing it.

The sacral fistula resection surgery is a surgical treatment aimed at permanently removing the abscess, sealing the fistulous tract from the inside out.

Do you need to remove your pilonidal cyst surgically?

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A pilonidal cyst is an abnormal cavity in the skin that generally contains hair and skin particles. In most cases, it is located near the coccyx, at the top of the buttock cleft.

Pilonidal sinus is more common in men than in women, especially in individuals between the ages of 20 and 30.

The pilonidal sinus is nothing more than an abscess formed in the sacral area, filling the cavity located in that area with impurities, hair, pus, etc. This cavity can become inflamed, leading to pain, itching, fever, chills, and other symptoms typical of an infection. 

Additionally, this type of abscess can create fistulous tracts inside the skin, which may require a more complex surgical method.

Certain factors can increase the likelihood of developing a pilonidal cyst, such as:

• Being male.
• More common in individuals between the ages of 20 and 30.
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• Occupations that require sitting for long periods.
• Excessive, thick, or coarse body hair.

When conventional methods are ineffective, the definitive solution to address the issues caused by the sacrococcygeal fistula (pilonidal cyst) is surgery.

Generally, there is no other treatment available to permanently eliminate the fistula. However, in some cases, draining the sinus can alleviate discomfort and symptoms for a long time, but this does not eliminate the cavity, which may still accumulate skin and hair follicles or become infected again at any time.

The sacrococcygeal fistula is a recurrent disease and difficult to resolve permanently with non-surgical methods.

Therefore, resorting to surgery ensures the removal of the pilonidal sinus. With this procedure, the cyst is removed in one piece, leaving the wound open so it can heal from the inside out, effectively closing the cavity completely.

First of all, if you are interested in the sacrococcygeal fistula excision procedure to address the problems and discomfort caused by the pilonidal cyst through Operarme, you can request a free and immediate consultation with our General Surgery Specialist to meet the surgeon, so he/she can evaluate your issue and recommend the best treatment for you.

If you would like more information before requesting the appointment, you can contact the Operarme team through the contact form, by calling at +34 91 141 33 56, or by clicking on the following image.

Do you need to remove your pilonidal cyst surgically?

Request a free appointment with our General Surgery specialist and schedule your surgery date

Make appointment

Once the consultation is requested, one of our patient service advisors will get in touch with you to answer any questions you may have and confirm that the scheduled date and time for the consultation fit your needs.

On the day of the consultation with the specialist, you should bring all medical and diagnostic tests you have regarding your condition. 

The general surgeon will review your medical history, perform an anatomical examination (if necessary), and analyze the provided medical tests (ultrasounds, blood tests, etc.). This is all done to determine the best treatment for you.

After the consultation, our patient service team will contact you to ask how everything went and whether or not you have decided to proceed with the surgery. If you have decided to go ahead, they will explain the next steps, arrange preoperative and anesthesia appointments, and answer any questions that may arise during the process.

Below, we explain everything about the pilonidal cyst excision procedure step by step, as well as the preoperative process and subsequent care instructions until full recovery.

Preoperative of the Sacrococcygeal Fistula Surgery

The tests that will be performed to assess your health during the preoperative phase of the sacrococcygeal fistula excision are:

• Electrocardiogram: To assess the condition of your heart.
• Chest X-ray: Not always requested; it must be specifically indicated by the doctor. This test is performed not only to check for signs of lung disease but also to ensure that the trachea is properly aligned.
• Complete blood work: Includes a full blood count, a basic coagulation study, kidney function tests, and a glucose test. A urine test will also be performed to rule out infection.
• Consultation with the anesthesiologist: Inform the anesthesiologist about any allergies, medications you are taking (whether prescribed or not), previous surgeries, etc. This consultation will determine which anesthesia will be used during the procedure.

If the anesthesiologist approves the surgery, the next step will be to go to the hospital to undergo the procedure.

When the time comes, once you're at the hospital, after submitting the documentation and being admitted to the center, the healthcare team will prepare you for surgery. 

Then, you will be taken to the operating room, where you will meet again with the general surgeon, the anesthesiologist, and one or more members of the nursing team who will assist with the procedure.

The pilonidal sinus surgery consists of draining the wound, removing pus and ingrown hair, and making a small incision in the skin and surrounding tissue of the fistula.

To help you understand what the surgical procedure involves, here are the steps followed during the operation in the operating room:

First, the anesthesiologist will administer general or regional anesthesia.

1. Once the anesthesia takes effect, the surgeon will make an incision in the area to remove the skin with the pores and the underlying tissue containing hair follicles.
2. After removing the fistula, and depending on how much tissue is removed, the area may be filled with gauze or left open. The surgical procedure will then be considered complete.
3. In some cases, a tube is placed to drain the fluid that accumulates after surgery. This tube will be removed later, once the fluid stops draining.

The duration of this procedure is approximately 30 – 60 minutes and is usually performed under general or regional anesthesia.

Pilonidal cyst removal surgery is an outpatient procedure, meaning you can return home the same day after recovering from the effects of the anesthesia. 

However, in some cases, it is recommended to remain hospitalized for at least the first 24 hours.

As we mentioned earlier, after the surgery, you will be able to return home after a few hours once the effects of the anesthesia have worn off. Before leaving the hospital, the specialist will explain the care you need to follow during the healing process and will schedule a follow-up appointment.

Some of the most common guidelines to ensure the success of the surgery and help you recover as quickly as possible include:

• Taking pain medications and applying antiseptics to prevent infection.
• Keeping the area around the wound clean. Dressings and gauze will be changed in the following days at an outpatient center, until the wound heals and closes completely.
• In some cases, it is recommended to shave the hair near the surgery site to prevent hair from entering the wound.

Full recovery after surgery typically takes 1 – 2 months, depending on the patient's healing ability and how deep the cavity caused by the pilonidal cyst was.

Pilonidal cystectomy, or surgical removal of the sacrococcygeal fistula, offers the main benefit of definitively eliminating a condition that causes significant discomfort to those who suffer from it.

Additionally, it is a short procedure and, in many cases, performed on an outpatient basis, meaning it does not require a hospital stay and generally involves a short recovery time.

In addition to the benefits of pilonidal sinus surgery, it's also important to highlight the advantages of undergoing the procedure through Operarme. The main benefits include:

• Free surgical evaluation consultation with a General Surgery Specialist.
• Fixed, all-inclusive price, guaranteed. From the very beginning, you know the final cost.
• Fully personalized care provided by our patient service team, guiding you and answering any questions throughout the process so that you never feel lost and can focus solely on your recovery.

The pilonidal cyst surgery—like most of our procedures—includes medical complication insurance, which covers issues such as the need for a hospital stay or a second surgery. To learn more about this coverage, please contact our patient service team.

The price for Pilonidal Cyst Surgery is 2.190 €. This is a fixed, all-inclusive price with no hidden costs, and it is the same across all cities where Operarme operates.

This price includes everything necessary to ensure the success of the procedure. Below is a breakdown of all the elements covered:

• Reservation and use of the operating room
• Stay in a private room with a companion bed, meals, and hospitality services for up to 1 day
• Complete preoperative testing
• Postoperative visits until medical discharge
• Surgeon’s fees
• Anesthesiologist’s fees
• Nursing team fees
• All surgical materials required for the procedure
• Anesthesia and use of the recovery room
• Medical complication insurance

If you're considering relieving the discomfort and limitations caused by a pilonidal cyst with Operarme, remember that you can request a free and immediate surgical assessment consultation with our General Surgery Specialists by filling out the contact form, calling at +34 91 141 33 56, or clicking below:

Do you need to remove your pilonidal cyst surgically?

Request a free appointment with our General Surgery specialist and schedule your surgery date

Make appointment