What would you with this?

[StiffyByng]

A large sebaceous cyst that I hate. It’s been there the best part of a decade - seen and diagnosed by a GP, hospital won’t remove unless infected. Many years ago my lovely hairdresser squeezed it away but it’s refilled, and has no head at all. I’ve got an appointment tomorrow to see if I can get it removed privately by my GP as a ‘minor procedure’ but I’m nervous he’ll say it’s too big - I can’t afford a full on private clinic.

If you can afford it then just get it done, you'll feel so much better. Truly shocking you have to pay for it though!

I'm booked in - I bit his hand off!

Woo!! Great news fellow cyst-head @StiffyByng

Cyst-neck, thank you very much!

I am shocked that it wasn’t removed before and that you’re having to pay for it now. But at least it’s getting done.

Please can you record it and share it with us? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I'll ask. He said it will almost definitely burst as he's removing it. I did say people on the internet would pay to see it but he didn't laugh.

my husband has had two removed from
his head. The first was about 15 years ago as a minor procedure done by GP at the surgery. The second one they said they wouldn’t do it on nhs but he had private cover through work so got it done on that. They were much smaller than yours.

My sister also had one on her neck (on the side behind her ear). They refused to touch it because of the location. Around Christmas it became infected and I have never seen anything so gross. Bless her she really suffered and it looked awful. Course of antibiotics and she was told to massage all the puss out using warm flannels and it has considerably reduced in size since, although still noticeable when her hair is up.

I feel for you OP, hope you get the referral, just wanted to share my insights incase they are helpful.

Will you report back as to how the removal went.
I have something similar on my back, just below my shoulder blade. Depending on what top i wear, its very noticeable. Id say its twice the size of yours. I was sent for a scan to make sure it wasn't anything sinister but there was no mention of having it removed.
Im really self conscious of it. It doesn't hurt unless im lying against something hard like the bath.
But the thought of having it removed terrifies me.

The best are when they come out intact and then get cut opened afterwards.

Glad you are getting help.

Hi all. Thank you for your replies and kind wishes. I will definitely report back on the end result. I promise photos; I can guarantee the after results but will try my best to get some action shots too!

Glad you are getting it sorted. Cross at the cost. It should be free. More importantly it should've been done before.

@Plump82

Will you report back as to how the removal went. I have something similar on my back, just below my shoulder blade. Depending on what top i wear, its very noticeable. Id say its twice the size of yours. I was sent for a scan to make sure it wasn't anything sinister but there was no mention of having it removed. Im really self conscious of it. It doesn't hurt unless im lying against something hard like the bath. But the thought of having it removed terrifies me.

I’m pretty sure the removal is painless, they use local anesthetic so at the most a small scratch from the needle for that. It sounds like it would make a big difference to you to get it removed?

Hi all. The lump is gone! Photos attached. It was painless although a lot of tugging involved. I didn’t see anything during but as you can see got a photo of some of what came out. It’s left a hole 4x4cm on my neck so I hope the scar won’t be too bad.

I got praise for it all being relatively odourless (the nurse said ‘the windows don’t open in here so it can be really awful’) but it got a bit cheesy towards the end so I’ve got antibiotics.

I am tempted to weigh myself to see if it’s made a difference.

I’m not sure if congratulations is the right word but I’m happy for you. That photo is magnificent! I hope you heal fast.

It does show why just a good squeeze wouldn't have done the trick, doesn't it?

😍

So glad you got it sorted @StiffyByng. Very impressive!

@Plump82 I think it’s generally lipomas they scan to make sure they aren’t sinister. If so, they don’t remove lipomas on the nhs unfortunately. Maybe phone the surgery and ask them to just tell you what the scan results said again.

I have exactly the same. GP won’t touch it. Booked myself in to a private hospital to have it removed for about £1000. When I showed him he was visibly surprised at how big it was and said I would need to go to theatre which would be around £2000, and therefore couldn’t do it there and then but would recommend I went under general as it would be more comfortable for around £4000.
I just want it gone, the skin stretched over it also smells so I can only imagine how bad it will be when it’s cut in to 🤢

That’s annoying. It feels like you’re being talked into a very expensive procedure there. If it really is a similar size, that all seems over the top. It took about ten minutes to get mine sorted. I have no idea about scarring yet of course but the private people here said it would have to be done by a plastic surgeon because of the risk of a bad scar which would elevate my costs too.

If it’s smelling there must be an infection, which may make itself felt soon. Might that help with getting it removed on the NHS?