Sebacious Cyst (scalp) removal - experiences?

crackerberry

Thanks everyone. I'll make an appointment about it. Does anyone know what the waiting time to get "scalped" is once the GP has agreed to take it out?

Organic12

May I ask how noticeable the stiches were whilst healing? (Scalp)

Mags30

I never saw my stitches because it's not so easy to see your own scalp. I was told by the nurse/doc that they were blue so that they could be found easily for removal. When I felt them with my fingers they felt very small. I expect that hair would disguise them very easily for a woman, my hair is long so when I went out I just tied it up in a messy bun. I doubt very much that anybody would notice them. Put it like this if you went to the hairdresser s/he would notice the stitches in the same way as they are the only people who really noticed the cyst. It's more that you would feel self conscious about it than anything else. Obviously you won't go to the hairdresser the week you have the stitches!

I don't know about waiting times for you guys, I live in Ireland and I waited about 2 months.

Mags30

Just wanted to add something else as some of you sound as scared as I was.

This is the only surgery I've ever had (apart from dentist). For ages I didn't know what a sebacious cyst was, I was convinced the lump was cancer and had myself all worked up about it and then was rather delighted when the GP dismissed it as nothing.

Despite this I was still scared about the procedure and had to remind myself a lot that I would be in and out of the hospital in a hour, I'd have lunch somewhere nice after to calm myself down and that I was really lucky compared to other people in the hospital who were having serious surgery....

It's normal to be scared, just like at the dentists the staff are used to patients being nervous for surgical procedures where people are awake. They are trained to deal with us, like the nurses who chatted to me to distract me.

Any more questions just ask.

Organic12

I guess I'm worried about people noticing the stitches as I've got very fine, thin hair. Easily solved, I'll have it done when on annual leave and wear a hat when out and about .

I have had mine checked by a GP and advised to leave it until it bothers me, which I'm happy with. At the moment it's not so noticable but definitely growing. I will ask how long appointments take the next time I'm at the docs.

Thanks to OP and posters for sharing, I know what to expect now.:beer:

Organic12

I went to the GP about getting my cyst removed as it's been growing quite fast of late. Another few months and I definitely won't be able to hide it.

Interestingly, he said that I could go to a dermatologist or as he said it, "a plastic man". He decided to send me to a dermatologist. Also, he said that it was debatable whether the matter was medical or cosmetic.

I was surprised that for a good size practice that I'm being referred to a consultant rather than it being done by the doctor, as per other posts on this thread. For those who got their ones removed at hospitals, which type of consultant did you see?

Having to go private too, which is fine (though not very MSE) but also unexpected.

Think I'll need this chap's hair to hide the stiches when it finally gets cut out: :eek:

Mags30

Not all GP's do minor surgical procedures, most don't which is probably why he referred you to a dermatologist.

I don't think removal of a cyst should be seen as cosmetic. I'm in Ireland so not familiar with NHS but I get the impression from other threads I've seen here that patients are constantly being subtly encouraged to go private for money reasons. Hopefully someone else can comment on this for you.

I think it would be better to have the procedure done at a hospital where the surgeon who does it is doing this procedure all day long because they are more likely to be much neater with the stitches than a GP who only does the procedure now and again.

Elsewhere

Scalp cysts are supposed to be the most straightforward. If you want to see it done (nb. quite a lot of these excisions seem to be done by amateurs on this site) have a look at http://www.popthatzit.com/ and type "scalp" into the search box at the top of the page. Generally they look as if they can be removed quite easily. HOWEVER - I don't recommend surfing the whole site unless you have a strong stomach for nastiness.