“Pilonidal cyst removal surgery is a must. For people with an uncomfortable and painful cyst, it is the only treatment plan available. While the results are invariably favorable, the recovery time is slow and gradual. In fact, a lot depends upon aftercare.”
With Dr. Allen Kamrava, MD, MBA you are in safe hands. An expert colorectal surgeon, he performs the surgery with utmost competence. Moreover, his handy tips on post-procedure care and management ensure quick and long-term recovery.
The pilonidal cyst removal surgery will remove the unwanted growth from the tailbone area. However, the surgical excision of the cyst will leave a wound behind. Understanding, the healing process is not straight forward. It is long, painful, and often marred with challenges. The certain strategies prove helpful
The Downtime After Surgery
People with small sized cysts and moderate symptoms recover pretty soon after the pilonidal cyst removal surgery. However, complicated excisions for complex and chronic cysts takes several months to heal.
How To Ensure A Smooth Recovery After Pilonidal Cyst Surgery?
Pilonidal cysts are likely to resurface again. To minimize the chances of recurrence or any complication to set in, it is important to adhere to the post-procedure instructions. Although these guidelines are customized according to the complexity of the case, there are a few general strategies that hold water in every pilonidal cyst treatment option. Here’s how to recover well and completely after a pilonidal cyst surgery:
Keep The Area Clean
The wound area must be kept clean and dry at all times. The frequency at which the dressing must be changed will depend on the type of surgery. For open-wound procedures, it is advised that you change the dressing once or twice a day. On the other hand, for close wound surgeries where the opening of the wound is closed with sutures, the need to change dressing is less frequent. It can be changed once in 2-3 days.
There is a proper procedure to follow when changing the dressing. Wash the wound with mild soap and water. Pat it dry with a soft gauze. Apply the antibiotic ointment, if any, and cover it lightly with packing strips. Make sure you use non-adhesive wound dressings that do not cause any further damage or pain during change.
Take note of any signs of infection breeding in the wound and get in touch with your doctor if there are any worrisome signs like redness around the wound, excessive swelling, foul-smelling discharge, or persistent pain and fever. Pilonidal cyst antibiotic treatment is typically helpful during the recovery phase after surgery.
Avoid Onsite Pressure
Any kind of pressure on the wound site will slow down healing after a pilonidal cyst surgery. It can also lead to complications if the sutures break open due to excessive pressure. The best tips to follow are to lie down stomach down for the maximum part of the day, use a donut pillow to sit, and avoid any kind of harsh and vigorous exercising. Walk around slowly and take adequate rest. Refrain yourself from doing the daily household chores at least for the first week after surgery. Seek help from family and caregivers for all-round support.
To manage pain and reduce the uncomfortable stretch at the wound site, take the prescribed medications at scheduled intervals. One can also use cold compresses for immediate relief.
Focus On Healthy Eating
The foods that you consume have a direct impact on your positivity and healing during this phase. A well-balanced diet is mostly recommended for general good health. However, plenty of fluids, fresh vegetables and fruits, and whole grain foods are extremely important at this time as they ease the risk of constipation. Furthermore, nutrients and vitamins are typically known to support tissue repair and wound healing. You can take multivitamin supplements for adequate strength and vitality. Increase your protein intake. Proteins are especially helpful for tissue recovery after surgery.
Besides what-to-eat, there are certain food choices that can go drastically wrong. These must be avoided all-throughout. Go low on sugary foods as they create a favorable environment for bacterial breeding. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and use of tobacco are considered the most detrimental for effective healing from a pilonidal cyst surgery.
Final Thoughts
While it may take several months to recover completely from a pilonidal excision surgery, the initial one week is the most crucial. Taking proper rest and following the instructions of the healthcare provider will help you sail through this difficult phase. While it is advisable to stay away from strenuous exercising during the first few weeks, deep breathing and slow joint mobility exercises prove typically helpful for improved blood circulation.
When it comes to recovering from a pilonidal cyst, the support of the healthcare provider is the most crucial. Dr. Allen Kamrava MD MBA designs a customized post-procedure follow-up plan. Depending on the type of surgery, he issues an extensive list of do’s and don’ts. These prove to be extremely helpful for proper healing. He also stays in close touch with the caregivers and helps patients and their families navigate through the procedure with ease. The recovery from a pilonidal cyst surgery is slow and gradual, but with proper care and guidance, it gets easier to heal and recover completely.
