How To Poop After Pilonidal Cyst Surgery

— Written By Risa Kerslake

Updated on April 27, 2022

Surgery for a pilonidal cyst is known as a pilonidal cystectomy. People who accept an inflamed or infected pilonidal cyst or an abscess may demand surgery to clear it. Pilonidal cysts are usually located at the base of the tailbone, at the crease of your buttocks. It is the result of your trunk reacting to hair or other debris that has entered the peel. A pilonidal cyst tin can exist painful, and you lot may accept a difficult time sitting. Pilonidal cysts tin also become infected and pb to sinuses, which are cavities deeper in the pare.

Left untreated, infection can spread, which tin can become life threatening. Surgery is necessary to remove the infection and help forbid its spread. Surgery tin can likewise help prevent pilonidal disease, a chronic status characterized by cysts, sinus cavities, and repeat infections.

This article will explain what happens during pilonidal cyst surgery, who is a candidate for surgery, potential complications, and what yous can expect from your recovery time.

Pilonidal cyst surgery basics

Young male in hospital bed wearing gown and cap with doctor looking at phone together — Cavan Images/Getty Images

Pilonidal cyst surgery is typically a minor outpatient procedure. Your medico will numb the area with a local anesthetic and then make a small cutting to open up the cyst. They will make clean out the area and remove any pus and debris using suctioning and saline. A common term for this procedure is "incision and drainage."

Your doctor may pack the area with gauze, or you may go dwelling house with a tube that continues to drain fluid.

Candidates for pilonidal cyst surgery

Not all pilonidal cysts need handling or surgical removal. However, if your symptoms are more severe, your medico may recommend surgery.

Signs and symptoms of an infected pilonidal cyst include itching, pain, drainage, and swelling. There is also the possibility you accept a sinus cavity — a sort of tunnel — under the skin from the infection. In this case, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the cyst along with the cavity.

Surgery tin can cure a pilonidal cyst, but sometimes pilonidal cysts and infections become chronic. They may get away and return throughout the years.

Risks and potential complications

Before your surgery, you will have a chance to meet with your surgeon to go over the process and what you lot need to know. To reduce your chances of complications, follow your doctor's instructions for preparing for your surgery and what to practise afterward.

Every surgery has risks, though these complications do non happen often. Some risks of pilonidal cyst surgery include:

bleeding
infection, which tin can be due to incomplete drainage
reaction to anesthetic

Know the warning signs of infection after surgery.

Grooming for pilonidal cyst surgery

You lot may need to take some time off work afterwards your surgery. While incision and drainage is not major surgery, there is still a healing procedure, and you may have some hurting afterward your surgery.

It is also possible that your doctor will find the need for more extensive surgery, which volition require a longer recovery time. In addition to requesting time off work, you lot may desire to adjust to have some help available afterwards when you return habitation.

Because of the site of surgery, you may want to set upwards an alternative workstation if your job or school involves sitting.

Prepare for your recovery menstruation by filling any prescriptions, such as antibiotics or pain medications, ahead of time, at least a 24-hour interval before your surgery. You can accept them ready to become once you get domicile from your procedure.

It is too a good idea to have someone drive you home later on your surgery. If y'all have children, see if you can have someone treat them at least the day of your procedure so you can residual as much equally possible when you go home.

Wearable something comfortable for the day of surgery. Yous will change into a gown in one case you are at the infirmary. Leave your jewelry at dwelling house.

What to expect with pilonidal cyst surgery

Pilonidal cyst surgery is typically an outpatient procedure, then yous tin get abode the same twenty-four hour period.

Anesthesia

Depending on the specific surgery, your doc volition use a general, regional, or local anesthesia:

Full general anesthesia: You are unconscious during the surgery and cannot feel any pain.
Regional anesthesia: You are awake but numb from the waist downwardly.
Local anesthesia: Y'all are awake simply numb at the incision surface area.

Read everything you need to know nigh anesthesia here.

Surgical procedure

The intendance team will shave the expanse effectually the site so that hair volition non be able to get into the wound. The surgeon will cutting into the area and apply saline and a suctioning device to remove pus, blood, and hair from the cyst.

Your surgeon will decide whether to go out your incision open or shut it.

For cyst incision and drainage, a mutual arroyo is to to leave the wound open up. If they leave the surgical site open, the wound volition heal from the bottom up. This means you may have a longer recovery time, but typically there is a lower take chances of the pilonidal cyst coming dorsum. The surgeon may pack the site with dressing to absorb secretions during the healing process.

If your surgeon closes the wound with sutures, your recovery time may be shorter than with an open wound.

You lot may go home with a drain that continues to pull fluid from the surgical site. Your doctor volition remove the drain later in the doctor's function.

Questions for your medico

Some questions you may want to ask your surgeon include:

Will I need to stop taking my current medications earlier or after the procedure?
Tin I swallow or beverage anything the day of surgery? Ordinarily, you volition non exist able to eat or potable when you are under general anesthesia.
How will you manage my pain later surgery?
When should I run into you lot for follow-upward?
Who should I phone call in case I have questions? Is there a number for later on office hours?

Know before you get: Tips for making an outpatient procedure prophylactic.

Recovery afterwards pilonidal cyst surgery

Hither are the estimated recovery times for different pilonidal cyst surgery operations:

simple cyst incision and drainage: iv–6 weeks
excision and open healing: vi–12 weeks
excision and wound closure: sutures removed after x days and shorter recovery time vs. open healing

The main priority during recovery is caring for the surgical site and preventing infection. Taking intendance of your body from the within out volition aid the healing process. Talk with your doctor almost your anticipated recovery fourth dimension for the procedure yous are having.

Recovery tips include:

cleaning the wound according to your doc'south instructions
eating nutritious and fresh nutrient, including foods loftier in fiber, to avoid constipation, such as:
- whole grains
- lean protein
- fruits and vegetables
avoiding food that tin cause constipation, such as cheese, bananas, and red meat
drinking plenty of water
non smoking
not riding a bike for 6–8 weeks

To slumber more comfortably, you will want to slumber on your stomach or side so that you are non putting pressure level on the surgical site. Take hurting medications equally needed, such equally acetaminophen (Tylenol) or the pain medication your doctor prescribes.

Find out what to eat and what to avoid afterwards surgery here.

Outlook

According to a 2021 review on pilonidal cysts and sinuses, the outlook is good with continued cocky-intendance to prevent recurrence.

A 2018 written report of adolescents undergoing handling for pilonidal disease showed an overall recurrence rate of 30%. Two-thirds of patients had surgical excision and ane-third had incision and drainage or antibody treatment, which is another pick for treating an infected cyst.

There are ways y'all tin prevent cysts from returning:

Keep the area of your buttocks make clean and dry by washing with a balmy soap.
If you take thicker hair in this area, shave weekly or every bit needed to prevent hairs from getting into your skin.
Endeavor not to sit for long periods of time. If your job allows it, accept frequent breaks so that y'all are not applying constant force per unit area on your buttocks.
If you lot are overweight, you can decrease your chances of developing pilonidal cysts by losing excess weight.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some questions people often ask about pilonidal cyst surgery.

Is pilonidal cyst surgery a major surgery?

This surgery is considered a pocket-sized procedure that is usually performed on an outpatient basis.

Is pilonidal cyst surgery painful?

You may have pain after surgery. Talk with your surgeon earlier the procedure about pain management. Using ice packs or warm compresses the commencement 1–ii days afterward can help.

How practice you poop after pilonidal cyst surgery?

You can poop as usual afterwards surgery. Certain anesthetics tin can crusade your digestive system to boring down, which might lead to constipation. Practise not strain to accept a bowel move.

If you lot are constipated, drinking plenty of water and eating foods high in fiber can help. Contact your doctor if y'all accept concerns or cannot poop without straining. You may need to take over-the-counter stool softeners. Wet wipes tin be more comfortable than toilet paper and get y'all cleaner after y'all poop.

Summary

Surgery for pilonidal cysts is called pilonidal cystectomy. A surgeon will cutting into the cyst to clean out the contents and clear any infection present. It is important to keep the area very clean and modify the bandages as directed. This helps prevent infection of the surgical site.

The recovery outlook is proficient, but pilonidal cysts and infections can reoccur and may crave more surgery.

Learn how to care for yourself afterwards surgery here.

Source: https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/skin-hair-and-nails/pilonidal-cyst-surgery