Seabaceous cyst excision

What Is a Cyst?

A cyst is a sac that forms in the body — it can form in bones, organs, or tissues. The cysts that form in the skin are essentially a pocket that is filled with skin cells, bacteria, and/or pus. They vary dramatically in size and can be found anywhere on the body. As time goes by, more and more skin cells are trapped in the cyst causing the cyst to grow larger.

How Can a Doctor Remove a Cyst?

Both of these types of cysts can be removed using out-patient procedures. Surgeons usually excise it. If the cyst is already infected, lancing the cyst is the first step.

• Lancing a Cyst : Lancing a cyst involves using a sharp knife to create a hole in the cyst. The doctor then squeezes and drains the contents. This is what you may see on YouTube cyst-popping videos. But, lancing a cyst isn’t typically the best way to get rid of the cysts permanently. However, if a cyst is already infected, this procedure allows us to remove most of the contents and treat infection topically. The lining of the cyst wall is not removed and the cyst may eventually reform. Most of cases of infected cysts require excision when infection resolves.
• Excising a Cyst : When a cyst is intact, an excision is typically the best removal procedure. In these cases, it’s important to remove the sack around the contents. We make an incision around the cyst to take out the entire cyst wall and contents. We stitch it up and let it heal.