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General health

I have a sebaceous cyst on my FACE. Anyone had one removed?

14 replies

eyeslikebutterflies · 29/09/2015 21:24

I have a sebaceous cyst right below my bottom lip. Big bugger (well, pea-sized) and visible all the time, but a lot more when I laugh or smile. It's getting bigger I think and I've looked into all the options. Surgical removal seems about it. Has anyone had one removed and it not left a massive scar? Did you go private? Any help gratefully received. I know in the scheme of things it's not a big deal but... it's on my face and I'm really conscious of it now.

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RNBrie · 29/09/2015 21:30

I've had a couple removed from my head, not face though. I went private (I have health insurance through work but was also advised by GP that the NHS wouldn't remove them as it was just cosmetic ) and the dermatologist referred me to a plastic surgeon as the dermatologist didn't want to do it as he was worried about scarring. If you're near London, I'd recommend him, he was really good.

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eyeslikebutterflies · 29/09/2015 21:35

Thanks RNBrie. I thought the NHS wouldn't cover it but also thought I'd get it done when I'm off work for 2 weeks so it has chance to heal a bit before I have to see anyone! Am guessing the NHS won't co-ordinate around my diary tho... I'm not near London but could get there easily enough - would appreciate the recommendation. Is it a quick procedure?

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Kleptronic · 29/09/2015 21:38

Not a cyst, but I had an infected boil/spot/pustule thing on my face, to the right and down from the right edge of my lip, sort of on the edge of the mid chin line.

This had oozed green pus for a year, totally bent my head and I had it removed privately. It was very deep (surgeon sent me for a dental x-ray, convinced it had tracked from a tooth abscess, but it hadn't) and it did leave a fairly innocuous scar, but the surgeon placed it in such a way that as I've got older it looks like a natural smile line now. I know he did that on purpose because he spent a lot of time having me smile and seeing what my face did.

It was annoying because I knew it needed removing but the GP insisted on referring me to a (private) dermatologist first, who went yep, that needs to come off, go and see the plastic surgeon. So I had to pay 2 lots of consultation fees for no reason.

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TopazRocks · 29/09/2015 21:39

The plastic surgeon will work with the natural lines on your face (sorry, everyone has them!!) and hopefully you'll not get scarring. My mum had one taken off her cheek and the scarring was almost invisible. I know it was there so knew where to look.

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treaclesoda · 29/09/2015 21:41

My dh had one years and years ago. It was really quite big, maybe 3cms across. He had surgery twice (first doctor botched it and it just came straight back) but I'd have to look really closely before I can see the scar. In fact I'd forgotten about it until I read this thread. It was on his nose though, so maybe less noticeable? But anyway, the scar is certainly less noticeable than the cyst was. Good luck.

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eyeslikebutterflies · 29/09/2015 21:41

Thanks, I'm starting to feel better about it. I've got lines - I'm 40 - and I actually have a small scar close by from when I was a kid. Can barely see it. So am hoping if I can find the right surgeon it'll be not too bad.

Sounds like a plastic surgeon is the way to go. How do I find a good one/not a cowboy?

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willconcern · 29/09/2015 21:43

Yes. On my cheek. It was done privately & the surgeon placed the scar to give me a lovely dimple. No-one has ever noticed it.

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willconcern · 29/09/2015 21:44

I would start by asking your GP.

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RNBrie · 29/09/2015 21:44

His name is Dr Raj Mallipeddi and he works out of St Thomas's and The Lister Hospital. It cost £625 for the removal of one of the buggers, we did them in stages as there were quite a few of them. The largest was the size of a marble and the scar is just a thin straight line.

It was ludicrously quick. Honestly about 15 mins in and out. I could easily have gone back to work the same day and it barely even hurt.

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 29/09/2015 21:45

On my back, on the NHS, no scar.

You have to get it removed op, I'd be less self conscious of a tiny scar than a lump.

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BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 29/09/2015 21:46

If it's right below your lip then the surgeon might go in at your lip-line to remove it, in which case there might not be any scar at all. I had a long one removed from my scalp and it healed very quickly, there probably is a bit of a scar there but then it's covered by hair so it's not quite the same. There's no raised scar tissue though.

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eyeslikebutterflies · 29/09/2015 21:48

RNBrie, thanks so much.

And also willconcern. I feel less scared about it now and more determined to sort it out!

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MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 30/09/2015 22:52

I had a keratoacanthoma (really nasty weird ugly looking thing , related to squamous cell cancer) on the edge of my top lip under my nose..so not much skin to play with and it was nearly 1cm across. The surgeon who removed it warned me it would scar as it was a tricky place to work on..but I have to say no one has ever noticed! The scar is much neater and smaller than I thought and now I'm mid 40s (it was 6 years ago) it just blends in with the rest of my aging face

Frankly they could have left a big scar and i'd still have been glad to get it removed asap, but it really isn't noticable at all :)

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eyeslikebutterflies · 01/10/2015 21:01

Thanks Medusa, I've got a appt with a plastic surgeon on Saturday (just an initial consultation) to see what my options are. I've had 2 other cysts out (leg/arm) and looked at them last night - can barely see the scars. So hopefully it won't be too bad! Thank you.