Minor surgery · London
Sebaceous cyst removal London.
Consultant-led day-case removal of sebaceous, epidermoid and pilar cysts under local anaesthetic. Face, scalp, neck, back and chest. Histology as standard. Home within the hour.
What it is
A benign, keratin-filled sac under the skin.
What people call a sebaceous cyst is usually an epidermoid cyst (from the skin surface) or a pilar cyst (from a hair follicle, common on the scalp).
These are benign, epithelial-lined sacs full of soft keratin. They sit under the skin as a smooth, mobile lump, often with a small central punctum you can see on close inspection. They favour the face, scalp, neck, back and chest.
Most stay quiet for years. Some rupture into the surrounding tissue, becoming red, tender and inflamed. Squeezing tends to make things worse. Formal removal of the entire wall is the reliable way to stop the cycle.
When to remove
Good reasons to have it out.
A small, quiet cyst does not have to come out. These are the situations where excision is the sensible next step.
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Cosmetic reasons
Visible cyst on the face, neck or scalp that you would like removed for appearance.
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Recurrent inflammation or infection
Cysts that repeatedly flare, rupture or need antibiotics.
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Size or discomfort
Larger than 2 cm, catching on clothing, glasses, waistband or hairline.
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Diagnostic uncertainty
Anything atypical, fast-growing or ulcerating goes to histology to confirm what it is.
Procedure options
Three techniques, matched to the cyst.
The right technique depends on size, site, and whether the cyst has ever been inflamed.
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Minimal excision
A 3-5 mm nick over the punctum. Contents are expressed, the wall is teased out through the small opening. Smallest scar. Suits uncomplicated cysts on the face and neck.
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Standard elliptical excision
A small ellipse of skin around the punctum, then the cyst is lifted out whole. Cleaner clearance, lower recurrence, slightly longer scar. First choice for larger or shoulder / back cysts.
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Incision and drainage (acute infection only)
For a hot, tender, infected cyst we drain it and treat the infection. We do not excise an inflamed cyst on the same day. Formal removal is booked 4-6 weeks later once tissues have settled.
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Leave alone
Small, quiet, symptom-free cysts do not have to come out. If it does not bother you, watchful waiting is a valid option.
The day itself
Local anaesthetic, twenty to thirty minutes, home.
A pure clinic-room procedure for almost every case.
You arrive, the site is marked and photographed, and local anaesthetic is infiltrated around the cyst. Once the area is fully numb, the consultant removes the cyst and its wall using whichever technique you agreed at consent.
Closure is a single layer of fine dissolvable sutures where a scar-line is used, or a small dressing over a minimal-excision opening. Tissue goes for histology. You leave with written aftercare and a same-day phone number, and go home within the hour.
Cost
What private sebaceous cyst removal costs in London.
Indicative all-in ranges across our vetted London panel. The NHS may fund symptomatic or recurrently infected cysts free of charge, per your ICB criteria.
| Option | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small cyst (under 1 cm) | £350-£550 | 20-30 min | Same day home |
| Standard cyst (1-3 cm) | £550-£950 | 30-45 min | Same day home |
| Large or previously inflamed cyst | £950-£1,600 | 45-60 min | Same day home |
| Scalp cyst, hair-sparing technique | £550-£850 | 30-45 min | Same day home |
| Consultant assessment | £150-£280 | 15-25 min | Same visit |
| Histology (routine) | Usually included | - | 7-10 days |
Where to have it done
The London clinics we route to.
A short panel of CQC-regulated London providers with consultant dermatologists, plastic surgeons or GPwSI minor-surgery leads.
- Cadogan Clinic, Chelsea
- Cranley Clinic, Harley Street
- London Dermatology Centre
- HCA Wellington Hospital
- Chelsea and Westminster Private
- Skin Surgery London
- GPwSI minor surgery lists
Recovery
Back to your day, then to the office.
Most people return to office work the next day. The dressing stays on for 24-48 hours, then the wound is kept dry until fully healed at around 10-14 days. The scar looks red for a few weeks and then softens and pales over 3-6 months.
Complications
Small, well-understood, mostly avoidable.
Wound infection sits around 5%, treated with a short course of antibiotics. Scars can occasionally become hypertrophic or keloid, particularly on the chest, shoulders and upper back. Recurrence is 1-5% when the full wall is removed and higher if any wall is left behind.
Frequently asked
What patients ask us about cyst removal.
Quick, honest answers on safety, scarring, cost, infection and recurrence.
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Is a sebaceous cyst cancerous?
Almost never. Sebaceous, epidermoid and pilar cysts are benign keratin-filled sacs. Malignant change is very rare. Everything we remove is sent for histology as a routine safety net.
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Will there be a scar?
Yes, any excision leaves a scar. Minimal excision leaves a small mark of a few millimetres. Elliptical excision leaves a fine line the length of the cyst. Both usually fade and soften over 3-6 months with taping, silicone gel and sun protection.
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Will my insurance cover it?
Cover varies. Symptomatic, infected or diagnostically uncertain cysts are often covered by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, Aviva and WPA. Purely cosmetic removal is usually self-pay. We check cover before booking.
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Can you remove an infected cyst on the same day?
No. We drain and settle the infection first, then excise the wall 4-6 weeks later. Cutting into an actively inflamed cyst gives a worse scar and a higher recurrence rate.
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Can the cyst come back?
Recurrence is 1-5% when the full wall is removed. If any wall is left behind the risk rises, which is why elliptical excision is preferred for anything that has been inflamed or ruptured before.
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Do I need sedation?
No. Local anaesthetic is enough for almost every cyst. Sedation is only considered for very anxious patients or multiple cysts in one sitting, and would move the procedure to a day-case theatre.
Ready when you are
Send us a photo, we come back with a plan.
Tell us where the cyst is, how long you have had it and any past inflammation. We reply within one working day with a matched consultant, a firm price and a time.
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