FEEDBACK ON A GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH SMALL TAG
@Belleangel22. Sounds like we had the same sort of issue BelleAngel - my tag was at 5 O'Clock. I had it removed one week ago under Local Anaesthetic. I had no fear of General Anaesthetic, it just wasn't my preference because I wanted to keep the procedure totally private and not rely on family to have to chaperone me after the surgery, as I would after a GA while in recovery.
I'm adding my experience for your info but also to everybody else. It took me MANY years to get my unsymptomatic tag removed after a childhood tear built up scar tissue into a small tag that was barely noticeable but always bothered me. It still annoys me that the NHS refused to do anything about it because it was deemed 'cosmetic' (the first time I mentioned it to a doctor 15 years ago, he just looked awkward and prescribed a tube of Anusol and sent me on my way, which was ridiculous) but that's another issue!
I have been lurking on these issues on the forum for years, so it's time for me to 'pay it forward' with my experience which so far has been quite good.
MY EXPERIENCE
I originally had a consultation with my local Practice Plus who carry out NHS procedures at hospital via Self Pay, and the surgeon was unsympathetic - he thought it was silly that I'd want to undergo surgery for something cosmetic and behaved as if I was wasting his time - he complained and sighed that he had to fill in a form with about 25 words even though I'd paid £100 for this 5 minute consultation). He tried to dissuade me by saying 'are you sure you want to risk death and extreme bleeding and infection through general surgery and thrombosis?' (this was for a tag half the size of a pea.). He agreed to do it but only under General Anaesthsia using medical scissors. I was left feeling depressed. I am sure he would have done a perfectly good job and was well-qualified, but I didn't feel comfortable with his arrogant demeanour and lack of compassion. And like you, I didn't want to go under GA.
I researched alternatives and had another (expensive!) consultation with a surgeon at one of the Spire practices (please note I'm not recommending Spire specifically, I can only speak for my experience with one surgeon). He seemed less judgmental and patronising, and without prompting, he suggested Local Anaesthesia using diathermy for the excision. He said he was suggesting Local because it would keep my costs to a minimum, but he also offered GA if I preferred to be unconscious and pay extra for an anaesthetist. He also said I could have sedation under LA if I wanted it (I didn't). Admittedly, the cost of LA at Spire came in at almost £800 more than GA at Practice Plus - my total cost for Spire was £2350 including the consult - but I didn't care; I wasn't going to entrust my bumhole to a surgeon I dislike! Neither surgeon mentioned stitches; the wound was to be left open/cauterized.
The surgery was absurdly quick and straightforward. The surreal part was being in a huge operating theatre with my legs raised in clamps (having never been in theatre before, I naively thought it would be just the surgeon and I in some small intimate room with one matron on hand), and there were about 10 medics in scrubs casually wandering past my spreadeagled arse on display and chatting, as they were all in attendance for about 15 day surgeries that morning. But seriously, it was second nature to them all, the staff were incredibly professional, and I just accepted up the weirdness and was glad that I had the excuse of wearing a face mask to disguise me! Then the surgeon injected the area which was the only uncomfortable part, if you are not used to injections. I honestly didn't find the injection to my bumhole any more intense than one to the arm, or to the gums during dental work, so this was a breeze to me. I mean, it stings like any injection, but it is over so quickly and the trick is to focus on long breaths slowly through your nose while it's being done. It honestly didn't bother me but I'm cool with injections. Then he did the procedure (I think diathermy is some kind of heated blade like a laser that then cauterises the wound) which took about 30 seconds - and that was it! 30 years of that pesky tag gone in 30 secs. I felt no pain, just a mild sensation of heat at one point.
I felt no pain at all after that and was home within an hour. I was bracing myself for major pain to arrive that evening but it never came, I haven't even popped a paracetamol all week. It just gradually began to feel a bit sore and tender, nothing dramatic, so I took care to treat the area delicately and leave it alone. It didn't wake me up and I slept fine.
The first one or two bowel movements are challenging mentally because you feel anxious about aggravating the wound, but apart from a few tender moments, nothing excruciating happened. I think this must depend on exactly how far 'in' the tag is located. Mine was on the 'outer' edge of the ring so it was quite easy to avoid the rawness experienced by others. The trick is to breathe into the movements and not panic, I'd also eaten nothing but Huel nutrition shakes with extra flaxseed for 2 days prior to surgery and stayed hydrated, so this helped really soften the stools. I also managed to apply vaseline to the ring area (avoiding the actual wound) which aided the passage of the stool! Wash your hands every time before going anywhere near the area to discourage infection.
Cleaning the area after a motion for the first few days was the trickiest bit, because I was determined NOT to allow any infection while not exacerbating the wound. Do not wipe the area - even with a soft toilet tissue - or you risk aggravating the delicate wound. I used water from a shower head at a comfortable temperature, with a soft stream that is not too forceful. It's awkward but just don't be rushed and take it slow, step by step. I did what I could with that, and then, using a mirror (with legs akimbo!) I would very gently pat and press the surrounding area with gauze squares to dry the area and ensure it was clean.
Gauze squares are really useful while healing and I ordered a huge pack of 40 sachets from Amazon for about 7 quid. I use these to pat the area dry when I need to or stick between my cheeks for comfort as a barrier - and I apply a thin coating of Vaseline to aid scar free healing (only use this if directed by your doctor). I have not experienced any bleeding other than very light spotting in first few days.
I recommend everybody get a vanity hand mirror with a handle before surgery - I find they are the easiest kind to use for doing the occasional inelegant check.
I'm on day 7 now and feel I'm healing well, it's becoming less tender and easier to wash each day. The site of the wound is swollen and pink although it is becoming calmer, and I feel that it will take quite a few weeks or months to subside totally, but I was prepared for that as others have described this. The tag is more or less gone, in its place is a slight 'flap' left over or kind of indentation, which I must admit I was hoping would be totally smooth, but I do believe that once healing is complete and the swelling is gone and everything has subsided, this will no longer be evident, or barely so. One has to bear in mind that there is always a risk of recurrence or another scar tag forming, but I'm hopeful that I'll avoid this.
So, I can't give you my final result yet as it's very early days, but just wanted to offer a largely positive experience for those who like me have spent years poring over all the forums for information and feedback!
I can't wait to show my new bumhole off to the world, and trust me it's gonna be the talk of the town!
Good luck everyone!