Recovering From Pilonidal Cyst Removal Surgery Fast At Home

Many times the only solution to a pilonidal disease is surgery. This happens when you have already tried all the other tricks in the book. You were also careful about your personal hygiene. But certain things are unavoidable and if you do find yourself facing surgery, you should know what to expect. Once you get into recovery after that, you would want to know how to speed it up at home.

But first, you must understand that a pilonidal cyst is an outgrowth that is the result of skin debris, broken hair follicles, and other impurities getting accumulated at the end of your tailbone right above your buttcheeks. This can be a painful formation and is usually characterized by redness, inflammation, swelling, and pus formation as well. 

It is a cyst and it can lead to a lot of problems in addition to irritation and even a bit of bleeding if you are not careful. Over time, you will have to make sure that you take all the necessary measures to minimize the symptoms because that is the only way to treat the problem at home. Unfortunately, if these things don't work, you might have to go for surgery to remove pilonidal cyst.

The best part is that most of these surgeries are highly effective and very much result-oriented. Your recovery is going to be very fast provided that you take care of certain aspects related to your diet, activity, and overall health at home.

Closed And Open Wounds

The pilonidal cyst surgeon is typically going to make an excision which is going to drain the fluid out from the cyst. The surgeon may choose to leave the wound open or to stitch it. This primarily depends on the depth of the cyst and how much area it had infected. Also, the treatment that you receive will determine whether it should be left open or stitched back up.

Closed Wounds And Their Management

Closed wounds are usually easier to manage because there is little to no bleeding. Also, you would notice that these sites heal up fairly quickly. Most patients after cyst removal are able to see a visible difference within just 2 or 3 weeks of the surgery.

Open Wounds When The Cyst Is Small

Your pilonidal cyst surgeons might prefer to leave the wound open, especially if it is a small area. But you will have to make sure that until that area is healed properly, you perform the dressing at least two times a day. The healing time is a bit increased but it proves to be beneficial for some patients. Also, experts say that with an open wound, the risk of infection is lower somewhere between 5 and 15%.

Recovering After Surgery To Remove Pilonidal Cyst at Home

Regardless of what kind of surgery or treatment for your cyst removal you have gone through, it is important to take care of your skin and the wound in general. You cannot leave it unattended or without any dressing if you want to heal faster. Let's have a look at a few things that you will have to ensure in your daily routine to speed up the healing process:

• Refrain from doing any activities at all. If you are thinking about hitting the track or going to the gym, it is better not to do that at all for at least two or three weeks.
• A closed wound is always going to ask for a change of dressing every few days. It is also important to pat the area dry once you have changed the dressing.
• Your physician or surgeon is going to advise you to drink plenty of water throughout the day. This is going to prevent you from struggling with any probable constipation problems.
• You will also be advised by your doctor to take adequate fiber supplements or make a few changes to your everyday diet so that you do not have to struggle with your bowel movements.
• There will be a bit of exercise involved in your daily routine but it is going to be very light and pretty manageable. Remember, nothing too stressful for at least three or four weeks while you are still sore at the site.
• After your surgery to remove pilonidal cyst, it is always better to invest in a few soft and cushioned surfaces that do not put any pressure on your rear side. A donut ring cushion will be better for you for at least a month.

Now let's have a look at a few signs and symptoms that indicate that your cyst might be back

• You will experience that familiar pain all over again 
• You will also notice that the swelling is back and the redness and inflammation have started showing up
• The area will become sensitive to the touch just like it was before
• If you notice any bad smell coming from the wound, it is possible that the same problem has started developing again
• Also, if you experience any fever or chills, it is better to connect with your doctor immediately

Final Thoughts

The cases of recurring pilonidal cysts are not so common. In fact, it could also be a false alarm. But why should you take the risk? Keep the number of your doctor easily accessible whenever you doubt that something is not right.