Head cyst removal - has anyone had this done?

[Fandango52]

I’ve had a cyst on the top of my head for ages - since my early twenties and I’m now mid thirties.

About a year ago, it started to throb and become really painful, so I got it checked out at hospital and they said it was benign and probably a sebaceous cyst. I was reassured it was benign, so decided not to remove it then, and they said I could get a referral back to themat any point if it became painful again.

Since then, it’s become quite painful again. I went to my local surgery today and they referred me back to the hospital, saying I could still probably get it removed because it’s painful.

I’ll probably have to wait a while to hear back from the hospital, but I’m just wondering if anyone here has had a similar cyst removed? I’m worried about things like complications and the risk of it regrowing. I’m sure the hospital will be able to give me some detail about the likelihood of those risks too. Thanks.

Yes I’ve had quite a few cysts on my head removed. Some at GP years ago and more recently at local hospital. Very straightforward. They didn’t even need to shave my hair. Painless at the time, sore after but nothing a couple of paracetamol wouldn’t sort. You supposedly can’t wash your hair for a few days after but I did after 48 hrs (very carefully) with no ill effects. They do come back occasionally but I got new ones in different areas.

I had one removed from my hairline on my forehead. If the remove the sac it can’t regrow, if they just lance it it can regrow.

I was referred urgently for removal after it grew massively and became painful. It was actually poking out from my hair and was visible due to it becoming a bald patch. As it happens, it got so big it popped and the entire sac came out the night before I went to hospital but I went in anyway. It would have been a day surgery, in and out. They had a look and said it seemed the sac was out so didn't want to mess around with it but when explaining the procedure, all seems like it would have been straightforward. Small cut then out. It's never grown back although I have a small dent in my head where it was and hair grew back where it had been.

Yes, I've had two removed over the years, and I now have another one that needs doing at some point.

No but following as I have a cyst that I want taken away

a friend had one in the middle of her forehead- very prominent. Anyway was taken away as day surgery and the scar is absolutely minimal.

I had two similar sebaceous cysts removed from my scalp by my GP in his surgery about 11 or 12 years ago. About 5 or 6 years later they grew back. My GP had retired by then and no one at the practice had the skills to do minor surgery at the time, but the new GP referred me to the local cottage hospital, who removed them as a outpatient.

Both "surgeries" took about 20 mins. All 4 cysts were tested, and all were benign sebaceous cysts. I think I had a local anathestic injection to numb my scalp both times.

They have not regrown since.

Thanks all! Great to hear you - or friends/family - had positive experiences. That’s really reassured me.

Will they do this on the nhs if it isn’t painful? I’ve have one for years that’s never bothered me but it’s starting to grow and I’d like to have it removed

I’ve had several removed. It takes about 10 minutes. Absolutely not a big deal.

the only pain is a quick sting from the initial numbing shot. Then they make an incision. Most of the time the cyst will just pop out. Sometimes they have to dig or scrape a bit to get it to release, but you won’t feel any of that. Then they put in a stitch or two and you go home with really messy looking hair.

Not on my head but back!
I had a cyst on my back since I was 13, no issues. Then I think I was 29 in 2016 it randomly got the nfected. Had to go under GA to have it removed. It was left open and packed and took for ever to heal.
It started to come back but I wasn't bothered until it became infected again in 2021. Was sent to A&E and they sent me to SAU who did it while I was sitting on the edge of the bed. Again, left open and was a bastard for healing - they had to redo it and stitch.
It's just bloody done it again.this time they have removed and stitched - literally last week so can't tell you the healing yet
I hope this is the last time but he said it's likely to come back and would need to go to a plastic surgeon next time.
I feel your pain, it truly is horrid but just be aware of not always done and dusted! I imagine healing and after care would be hard on your head. Hope you get it sorted soon

Just go online and watch any episode of 'Skin A&E' or the 'The Pimple Popper' and you will see any number of head cysts that people are now getting removed. Some even like to touch them once out! 🤢

You could even sign up yourself if you fancy being on camera. As long as the entire sac is removed- it won't grow back.

I've known two people have them. One needed about six excised and said it was really quick and painfree, just a bit annoying whilst the stitches were in, and the other (DP) left it.

DP's grew bigger to about large marble size until one day it looked like he'd scratched it on top. He said he was shaving his head - he's been 90% bald since his early 20s - it felt sore and had started to weep - as he checked it, something white came out (I reckon it was the sac). The swelling went down over the following week or so and there's no sign of it ever having been there.

I'm just disappointed DP's one went when I wasn't in the room. But I guess he didn't fancy a starring feature on Sporners' Corner. Anyhow, based on a sample of two, OP, it sounds like a really simple thing with minimal inconvenience, other than any that would come from being careful with washing or brushing your hair afterwards.

@Fandango52 I had a very large one removed yesterday! It had been steadily growing for at least 5+ years and was about the size of a boiled egg, right in the middle at the back of my head. My hair did cover it so it wasn't absolutely necessary to get it done but I felt like it was getting too big and uncomfortable when lying down. The procedure took about 45 mins I'd say and was numbed so only felt the tugging etc. Did make me feel quite sick 🤢 nearly 24 hours later and it's hurting a fair bit - paracetamol helping slightly. Very difficult to sleep on it last night so ended up watching tv at 3am 🙈 I think I'm most traumatised about the shaving of my long hair!! There is a big patch in the middle that I'm hoping my top hair will be able to cover 😬 good luck if you go ahead with it. I'm sure I will be much happier when it's healed xx

I did nearly 24 years ago! I had a one near the front of my hairline for years - I knew it was a cyst as my dad had one too - eventually I got it removed as it was showing through hair and creating a bald patch - through my dh's work (at the time's) private health insurance. I have grown quite a few more small ones on my scalp since and adult DD has them as well so there must be a hereditary aspect.

The size of a boiled egg!! Gosh that sounds huge. I can imagine it must have been really uncomfortable 😮 I’m also impressed that your hair still covered it! Your hair must be lovely and thick. I don’t think mine would stretch that far, but I wish! Sorry it’s been painful - hope the paracetamol helps and that you feel better soon.

Ah that’s interesting that it might be hereditary - I’d never thought of that but that makes sense!

My late husband had one removed before he met me. It was apparently right in the middle of this forehead. You really couldn't tell. He would have been in his thirties when it was removed.

It was definitely a sebaceous cyst. As I said, I never saw it...but he told me that the kids at his work had taken to calling him Cyclops... (The little darlings.)

ETA Sorry fellow posters - I accidentally quoted.

Thanks for sharing- that’s really reassuring that his cyst removal went well.

Hubby had an egg size one on the back of his head above his neck removed. The NHS paid for it to be done privately and he was given a GA.
It burst as it was being done so he had to have a course of anti bs.
Had no issues afterwards.