Pilonidal Surgery Recovery Timeline: How Long Does It Take to Heal?

“Plan to undergo a pilonidal cyst excision surgery? Here’s complete information about the recovery timeline and what to expect during the healing phase. This information is important to make an informed decision and improve condition outcomes.”

Every patient who visits Dr. Allen Kamrava MD MBA to seek advice for their pilonidal cyst are carefully assessed and evaluated. A customized treatment plan is designed before proceeding with the excision surgery. 

If your pilonidal cyst is returning back despite best efforts, you probably require an aggressive cyst removal. The pilonidal cyst excision is highly effective for persistent and difficult-to-manage cysts. But the recovery period is long and may take several months before complete recovery happens. Also, there are challenges associated with each stage of healing. Here’s when you can get back to your routine life.

What Is A Pilonidal Cyst?

The cyst begins to develop in a hair follicle. The position is awkward – at the rear side of the body, between the clefts of the buttocks. Slowly the cyst becomes inflamed and infected. This makes the area painful and movement difficult. 

What Is Pilonidal Cyst Surgery?

A conservative treatment approach is the first line of action to resolve a pilonidal cyst. But unfortunately, only a limited number of cases heal. As the cyst resurfaces time and again, pilonidal cyst excision surgery becomes mandatory. 

The pilonidal cyst surgery is a broad domain. It includes several approaches towards excision of pilonidal cyst. These include:

• Cut and Drain – This is the step 1 of any pilonidal cyst excision. The cyst is cut open. This allows all the accumulated fluids to drain out. Once the cyst is empty, it is cleaned and sterilized. 
• Open Wound – For small sized cysts where the incision is small, the surgeon will leave the wound open after draining it. It is packed with a sterile gauze to cover the wound lightly.  
• Close Wound – This is for cysts with a larger incision. If more area of the cyst is opened to remove the infected area, the sides of the wound will be stitched together to close the wound. 
• Rhomboid Flap Surgery – This is the most comprehensive excision pilonidal cyst. As relapse rates are high if the wound cavity is left hollow, this method relies on skin grafting to pack the wound neatly. A portion of healthy skin is cut from another part of the body to pack into the wound. The wound is then stitched neatly with stitches. 

Recovery After Pilonidal Cyst Surgery

The recovery timeline after pilonidal cyst surgery has three main phases. This can be seen as immediate post-surgery period, short-term recovery and full recovery. Each period has its specific challenges. It is important to deal with these to progress further. 

Immediate Post-Surgery Period

These are the initial few days after surgery. The wound is fresh and the pain and discomfort levels are high. This is typically a complete resting phase. Adhere to the guidelines issued by the surgeon as these will be tailor-made for your type of surgery. Wound cleaning is extremely important during this phase. Maintaining pain with analgesic and controlling infection with antibiotics is the key. Take proper rest, refrain yourself from movement and avoid putting pressure on the wound. Sitting properly after pilonidal cyst surgery is an important instruction to follow. 

Short-Term Recovery

The first few weeks after surgery bring along noticeable improvements. As the wound is healing and getting better, the pain and discomfort is low. Wound cleaning is still important and timely medication can help manage it further. People with open or close wound surgery can consider returning to work. But it’s important to follow instructions and continue monitoring the wound for any signs of infection. Make sure you do not skip your scheduled follow-up appointments as the doctor will assess the pace of recovery.  

Long-Term Recovery

This is complete recovery after a pilonidal cyst surgery. This may take up to six months. The Rhomboid Flap Surgery takes the longest time to recover. One may slowly begin to feel more comfortable and at ease after the surgery. Slowly get back to resuming normal day-to-day activities. Do regular exercises and get back to your daily work routine. 

Relapse Rate Of Pilonidal Cysts 

Pilonidal cysts can be very hard to deal with. If the infected unhealthy tissue is not removed completely, the chances that a pilonidal cyst will resurface again is almost 30%. This slowly turns it into a chronic condition. Therefore, it is important to follow all preventive tips to ensure a complete and lasting recovery. 

Final Thoughts

The recovery process after a pilonidal cyst surgery is long. While the aim is to improve physical healing, this is possible only if one maintains a positive outlook during the treatment phase. As complete healing will take time consider taking support of family and caregivers. The cost of the pilonidal cyst surgery is typically covered under health insurance. This takes care of the financial aspect. Dr. Allen Kamrava MD MBA is a trusted name in this domain. He has a well-established clinic at Beverly Hills and has helped numerous patients recover quickly and completely following pilonidal cyst excision. Book an appointment to discuss your case in detail.