Dermal Cyst Excision

What you should know

A dermal cyst excision is surgery to remove a dermal cyst. This is a painless bump that grows under your skin. The bump contains a sac filled with white or yellow fluid. A dermal cyst is usually caused by an injury, a pimple, or an infection. This kind of cyst grows slowly and is often found on your chest, back, neck or abdomen.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Risks

• You may feel pain from the surgery. The surgery site may get infected, bruised or leave a scar. A scar may become large and raised. Your surgery site may become infected or inflamed. Your stitches may come apart. Blood may buildup in your wound and you may get bruises. The nerves near your surgery site may be damaged.
  
  
• Even if your cyst is removed, it may grow back. Without treatment, your cyst may become larger. Your cyst may burst open. If your cyst bursts, it may become infected and more painful. If you have cancer, your caregiver may not find it and it may spread to other parts of your body.

Getting Ready

Before your surgery:

• Your caregiver will ask you questions about your cyst. He may ask you when you first noticed the cyst and if it has grown larger. Your caregiver will check the cyst and the area around it. If your cyst has burst, he may check it for infection.
  
  
• Your caregiver may do imaging tests to see what may have caused your cyst. These tests may also help your caregiver see if your cyst is touching nearby organs. Imaging tests may include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound. Ask your caregiver for more information about the tests that you may need. Write down the date, time, and location of each test.
  
  
• Ask someone to drive you home after your surgery. Do not drive yourself home.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver if you need to stop using aspirin or any other prescribed or over-the-counter medicine before your procedure or surgery.
  
  
• Bring your medicine bottles or a list of your medicines when you see your caregiver. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any medicine. Tell your caregiver if you use any herbs, food supplements, or over-the-counter medicine.

The night before your surgery:

• Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking.
  
  

The day of your surgery:

• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your surgery.
  
  
• You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal document called a consent form. It gives caregivers permission to do the procedure or surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Make sure all your questions are answered before you sign this form.
  
  
• Caregivers may insert an intravenous tube (IV) into your vein. A vein in the arm is usually chosen. Through the IV tube, you may be given liquids and medicine.

Treatment

What will happen:

• You will be moved to the room where your surgery will be done and moved to a table. The skin over and around the cyst will be cleaned. Sheets will be put over you to keep the surgery area clean. You will be given a shot of anesthesia medicine near your cyst to help keep you pain free. Your caregiver will make a cut into the skin on or around your cyst. Your caregiver will use his fingers to push the contents of the cyst out of the hole. He will then use a tool to remove the rest of the sac and its walls.
  
  
• If you are awake, you may feel pressure or pulling while the cyst is being removed. If your cyst is infected, your caregiver may drain it first and may remove the sac another time. He may put a drain or gauze cloth in your cut to help remove infection. The cut may be closed with stitches or left open to heal. A bandage will be placed over your wound to keep it clean and dry. Your caregiver may send the cyst and nearby tissue to a lab for testing.

After your surgery:

You will be taken to a room where you can rest. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says it is OK. Your caregiver will decide when he should remove your drain or stitches. Your caregiver may ask you to press on your bandage. This may help you from getting bruises. When your caregiver sees that you are OK, you will be allowed to go home.

Waiting area:

This is an area where your family and friends can wait until you are able to have visitors. Ask your visitors to provide a way to reach them if they leave the waiting area.

Contact a caregiver if

• You cannot make it to your surgery.
  
  
• Your cyst bursts open or begins to leak.
  
  
• Your cyst is red or warmer than the skin near it.
  
  
• You have reddish streaks near your cyst.
  
  
• You have a fever.
  
  
• You have very bad pain that does not go away, even with medicine.
  
  
• You have a new cyst that your caregiver has not seen.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your surgery.

Seek Care Immediately if

• You are dizzy or feel like fainting.
  
  

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.