Surgical Removal Of Sebaceous Cyst

Narrow hole technique is a surgical procedure in which the surgeon removes the cyst with a very small incision.
It generally helps treatment for Cyst removal.
However, this procedure may not be recommended in case:
- Keloid scars
- Active bacterial or fungal infection
- History of herpes simplex virus infection
- Pregnant women
- History of eczema, psoriasis and other chronic skin conditions
- History of actinic (solar) keratosis
- Medical disorders such as scleroderma, collagen vascular diseases, bleeding disorders, heart disease
- Patients with diabetes and those on immunosuppressive therapy, who are therefore more likely to have decreased wound healing
- Patients with moles or warts in the treatment area
BENEFITS:
- Firstly, narrow hole technique is quick, minimally invasive and so causes no to very little pain.
- Secondly, because it destroys tissue by excision instead of volatilization, there is no scar formation. Thereby it improves the cosmetic results of removing epidermal cysts.
- Thirdly, it greatly reduces the chances of the unfavourable sequelae of pain, swelling, infection, rigidity, and shock due to excessive bleeding after major surgery.
- Above all, the procedure has a low recurrence rate and is without complications.
How does the procedure work?
Pre-Procedure
- Your dermatologist will explain the procedure to you step-by-step and address all your concerns.
- After that, you will be asked for your consent for the procedure. In fact, only then will they proceed further.
- Once you’re comfortably settled, your dermatologist will clean the treatment area properly and then give local anaesthesia.
- He will make a narrow hole incision over the cyst with a needle.
- With the help of the scraping method, he will scrap the cyst gently towards the hole and remove the cyst entirely with the help of the extractor and forceps.
- Lastly, to control bleeding, he will apply a compression dressing for five days with ointment and gauze.
Furthermore, the procedure lasts for about an hour to an hour and a half.
Moreover, in some cases, you may need to repeat the procedure after an interval of 1-2 months to reduce the risk of recurrence.
POST-PROCEDURE CARE:
- Immediately after the procedure, you may experience a burning sensation that can be relieved by a cooling pad, cooling roller, or fan.
- Try to avoid any direct exposure to dust.
- You can wash the treated area with plain water after 24 hours or the next morning after treatment.
- After the first day, wash and dry the treated area by patting the skin gently for 2 days.
- During that period, do not rub the treated area.
- After the 3rd day, you may wash or take a shower regularly.
- Meanwhile, apply lotion at least twice a day. It will help hydrate and moisturise the skin, which will, in turn, help the area heal and reduce the risk of an allergic reaction.
- Your doctor may prescribe painkillers and antibiotics to decrease pain and prevent infection.
- After 3-7 days, a scab will form on the treated area and fall off soon.
- New skin will start forming after 10-14 days.
- For a week, avoid any vigorous activities like swimming, weight lifting, etc. Likewise, avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Average downtime is about five days.
SIDE EFFECTS:
- Hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation
- Mild erythema
- Mild depression
- A pinpoint scar
However, the risk of these side effects is reduced when the procedure is performed correctly by an experienced surgeon.