Pilonidal cyst removal

Pilonidal (say "py-luh-NY-dul") cyst removal is a type of surgery. It removes a pilonidal cyst at the top of the crease of your child's buttocks.

The doctor may use medicines or special tools and small cuts. In some cases, a larger cut is needed. When more tissue is removed, a skin flap may be needed. Some cuts may be closed with stitches. Your child will likely have one or more scars that will fade over time.

Your child will probably go home several hours after surgery. It may take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks before your child can do most of their normal activities.

But until the area has fully healed, it's important that your child not sit for a long time or do any type of hard or challenging exercise.

Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.

Preparing for surgery

• Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.
• Understand exactly what surgery is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options.
• If you take a medicine that prevents blood clots, your doctor may tell you to stop taking it before your surgery. Or your doctor may tell you to keep taking it. (These medicines include aspirin and other blood thinners.) Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.
• Tell your doctor ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take. Some may increase the risk of problems during your surgery. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking any of them before the surgery and how soon to do it.
• Make sure your doctor and the hospital have a copy of your advance directive. If you don’t have one, you may want to prepare one. It lets others know your health care wishes. It’s a good thing to have before any type of surgery or procedure.

Activity

• Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
• Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation.
• Shower as usual. Pat the area around your incision dry with a towel when you are done. Avoid baths until the wound is completely healed. Keep the area dry and clean.
• Ask your doctor when you can drive again.
• Avoid sitting for a long time or sitting on hard surfaces while you are healing.
• Most people are able to return to work anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. It will depend on the type of surgery they had.

Diet

• You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt.
• Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor tells you not to).
• You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fiber supplement every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, ask your doctor about taking a mild laxative.

Medicines

• Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. The doctor will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines.
• If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
• Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
• If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
  • Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).
  • Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.

Incision care

• If your incision was closed with stitches:
  • Wash the area daily with warm water and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.
  • You may cover the area with a gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day.
  • Keep the area clean and dry.
• If your incision was left open to heal, change the bandage, called a dressing, as instructed by your doctor.
  • Dressing changes may hurt at first. Taking pain medicine about half an hour before you change the dressing can help.
  • If your dressing sticks to your wound, try soaking the dressing in warm water for about 10 minutes before you remove it. You can do this in the shower or by placing a wet washcloth over the dressing.
  • You may notice greenish gray fluid from your wound as you start to heal. This is normal. It is a sign that your wound is healing.

Other instructions

• Use a coccyx cushion if sitting is uncomfortable. This type of cushion keeps pressure off your tailbone (coccyx) while sitting.
• In some cases, keeping the area free of hair may prevent problems. Ask your doctor if you should remove hair from the area and what method of hair removal they suggest.