What is a cyst?
Cysts are a common skin condition characterized by the development of a small pocket of fluid under your skin. You may form a cyst after an infection or from a clogged oil gland. Cysts also form around foreign objects, such as an earring. Your cyst may be filled with either fluid or pus.
How do I know if I have a cyst?
Cysts aren’t usually painful, but you may be able to identify a cyst by touch. They usually feel like a firm, smooth pea that easily rolls under your skin.
Although cysts are benign, they can rupture or become infected, and you should have your cyst evaluated and treated by the skin experts at Koger Dermatology as soon as you realize you have one.
What can I expect during removal of a cyst?
Removal of a cyst requires full removal of the entire cyst capsule. Although a cyst can be drained, it will come back if the capsule isn’t removed.
Before removing your cyst, the team injects a numbing agent in the area to ease any discomfort. The dermatologist then opens your skin with a surgical blade and removes the entire cyst through the opening. As skilled surgeons, the team at Koger Dermatology use only small incisions when removing a cyst to minimize scarring.
After removing the cyst, the dermatologist closes the opening with stitches and sends the cyst to the lab to be examined and evaluated to ensure that it’s a benign cyst.
Procedure time may vary depending on the location of your cyst, but may take about 20-30 minutes to remove your cyst.
What happens after the cyst is removed?
After your cyst is removed the team at Koger Dermatology provides specific instructions on how to care for your incision site. You may also need to limit your activity until the sutures are removed.
The team may also schedule a follow-up appointment to examine the surgical area to make sure it’s healing properly.
If your cyst is large and bothersome, the team at Koger Dermatology can remove the cyst so it never comes back. Call the office, or schedule an appointment today.