Is anyone you know about to undergo pilonidal cyst removal surgery? A pilonidal cyst is a fairly common condition among hairy obese males who sit for long hours. It is important that one should know what to expect after the surgery and how to take care of the wound properly. There are some findings that may seem to be alarming but, in reality, are part of the natural healing process.  However, any anxiety can be reduced by having a comprehensive awareness of what pilonidal cysts are, how they develop, what to anticipate, how to take precautions, what treatments are available, and what pilonidal cyst surgery entails. So let’s get started.

Healing process

The pilonidal cyst surgery recovery time predominantly depends upon the type of surgery that was done. There are two major types of surgeries done for pilonidal cysts. 

First is incision and drainage, wherein a doctor makes a slit in the skin of the cyst and squeezes out the pus and debris. The cavity is then left open instead of suturing it back so that any pus formed further would easily come out. After this procedure, people recover very quickly and tend to go back to work within a couple of days. 

The second type of pilonidal cyst removal surgery is pilonidal cystectomy. It is a more radical approach where the entire cyst and surrounding tissues are excised out, and the defect created is then sutured. In this case, healing can take up to four to six weeks. 

Pain

Pain and discomfort are inevitable after pilonidal cyst removal surgery. The area may feel tender for a long time, but the pain will gradually subside. The surgeons usually prescribe strong painkillers to ease the pain a little for a couple of days. They will also enlist some antibiotics for you to take so as to prevent wound infection and other complications. It is crucial that you take the full course of the antibiotic.

Difficulty in sitting

It may be extremely painful to sit for a few days after pilonidal cyst removal surgery. While it will gradually reduce, you can use a coccyx cushion if sitting down feels unbearable to you. It distributes the pressure and causes less pain upon sitting down. Doctors usually recommend avoiding strenuous exercise as well as activities that require long periods of sitting, especially on hard surfaces. All this until the defect heals. 

Passing stools

Constipation is very common after the surgery as it takes time for normal bowel activity to resume after the anesthesia. Instead of resorting to straining every day to release the stools, try taking fiber supplements. Straining will only make your pain worse and slow down the healing of the suture line. In most cases, the surgeons will prescribe a laxative or fiber supplement along with the other post-op medications. 

During dressing the wound

You need to clean the wound regularly, and it should be followed by healing Ointments and sterile dressing. During removing the bandage, you may notice a yellowish or greenish discharge stuck on the bandage. You need not worry, as this is part of the normal healing process and should subside on its own in a couple of days.