Skin Cysts and Swellings
Skin Cysts and Swellings
Skin cysts are noncancerous, closed pockets of tissue that are filled with fluid or other substances. They can occur anywhere on the body and may be caused by a variety of factors, including infections, injury, inflammation, or blocked oil glands. Skin cysts can be removed surgically or treated with medication. Some examples are sebaceous cyst, ganglion cyst, dermoid cyst, epidermoid cyst, etc.
Swellings/ Lumps are abnormal enlargements or protuberances on the skin / sub-cutaneous tissue that can be caused by a variety of factors, including infection, inflammation, or injury. Swellings can be treated with medication or surgically removed. Some examples are lipoma (fat masses), hemangioma (blood vessels), granuloma, schwannoma (nerve sheath), osteoma (bone) etc.
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FAQ'S
Skin cysts are small, round lumps that develop under the skin. They are usually filled with a protein called keratin and are benign (noncancerous). Skin cysts can occur anywhere on the body, but are most common on the face, scalp, and chest.
Dr. Gautam Reddy will ask for a few basic tests, after which procedure can be planned.
Most of the cysts and swellings are excised under local anesthesia. A small injection is given to the skin over the lump to numb it before excising it. You will be wide awake.
Local anesthesia procedures will not require admission.
You can get back to work on the same day. Strenuous physical is to be avoided for at least a week.
Some common cysts and swellings are mentioned below :
Lipoma:
Also called “Fat balls” under skin. It is a non-cancerous mass of fat cells arising from fat layer below the skin. They are freely mobile in all directions (characteristic of lipoma, used to distinguish it from other lumps). Pain is a rare symptom which is caused only when it compresses on surrounding tissues. They are usually multiple and are common on hands, arms, thighs, abdomen and back. Although rarely they can be seen on forehead & neck. It presents more of an aesthetic problem and most people seek medical attention for that purpose only. It is a hereditary condition and most (but not all) patients have someone in their family with a similar condition.
Lipoma Surgery : Lipoma removal surgery, also known as lipoma excision, is a surgical procedure used to remove a lipoma. Lipoma removal surgery is usually performed when a lipoma becomes large or is in a location that causes discomfort or interferes with movement. The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia, and the lipoma is removed through tiny incision in the skin and is closed with stitches. Dr. Gautam Reddy prefers the latest suture-less technique where there are no sutures visible externally. After the surgery, the incision site is covered with a bandage, and the patient is given instructions on how to care for the wound oral pain medication is given and instructed to avoid strenuous activity for a few days after the surgery. The stitches will be removed (if any) in a fortnight or may dissolve on their own.
FAQ'S
It is a hereditary condition. The fat lobules get enclosed in a thin capsule which gives it a different consistency compared to the normal fat.
Forearms, arms, thighs, abdomen & back are common areas. Less commonly, they are seen over neck, forehead and face.
They are harmless. They may be painful in a few people. Liposarcoma is an extremely rare condition where a long standing lipoma becomes cancerous.
Since they were not considered harmful, they were mostly left untreated by doctors until a few years ago. Recently with the rise in awareness of aesthetic principles, Lipomas are being treated if requested by the patient.
Scars are unavoidable, but we use minimal incisions and suture-less techniques to minimize the scar. It may result in a fine thin line at the most.
Lipomas are excised under local anesthesia. A small injection is given to the skin over the lump to numb it before excising it. You will be wide awake.
Local anesthesia procedures will not require admission.
You can get back to work on the same day. Strenuous physical is to be avoided for at least a week.
Sebaceous cysts :
They are cysts filled with keratin, “Cottage cheese” like material which can have foul odour. They can appear anywhere but are common over back, face, scalp, ears, scrotum and upper arm. They are usually painless but can turn painful when they get infected. Unlike lipomas, these are adherent to the skin but are not attached to tissues below it. There is usually a black dot (called punctum) over the swelling which is characteristic. Surgical excision is the only treatment. A total excision can prevent recurrence, although some surgeons prefer to evacuate the contents first and then remove the cyst wall. The incision is usually closed with fine sutures but Dr. Gautam Reddy prefers to do it the suture-less way.
FAQ'S
Largely unknown, but may be due to hereditary reasons, or excess testosterone levels.
Treatment differs based on whether it is infected or not. Most people won’t bother about it until it turns painful, which is a sign of infection.
Uninfected sebaceous cysts are directly taken up for surgical excision. The cyst is easier to remove completely and the incision is closed after excision.
Infected cysts are managed differently. The infection is treated first using antibiotics. After it is controlled, excision is performed. If pus has formed, then incision and drainage is performed before cyst removal. It may be left open without suturing.
Complete excision guarantees no chance of recurrence. If it is removed as a piece meal, there may be a slight chance of recurrence.
Sebaceous cysts are excised under local anesthesia. A small injection is given to the skin over the lump to numb it before excising it. You will be wide awake.
Local anesthesia procedures will not require admission
You can get back to work on the same day. Strenuous physical is to be avoided for at least a week.
Dr. Y. Gautam Reddy
M.B.B.S; M.S; M.Ch (Plastic Surgery)
Meet Our Doctor
Helping you Look Beautiful
Dr. Y. Gautam Reddy is a highly skilled and experienced plastic surgeon who has graduated from the prestigious Osmania Medical College. He has spent years teaching and practicing at top institutions like SRM Medical College in Chennai and ESIC Medical College in Hyderabad, as well as working at corporate hospitals such as Gleneagles Global Hospital in Chennai.
Dr. Reddy has extensive training in a wide range of aesthetic surgeries, including hair transplantation, hair therapies, gynecomastia surgery, breast surgeries, liposuction, abdominoplasty, scar removal procedures, and keloid treatments. He is also skilled in microvascular surgeries, trauma reconstruction, cancer reconstruction, burns management, and hand surgeries.