That lump on your scalp, taken out for good

The pre-op assessment is £75. Removal of a single pilar cyst starts at £600. That is a starting price. The final all-inclusive fee depends on the size, depth, site and complexity of the cyst, and is confirmed at your assessment before any surgery is booked. If you have more than one cyst, they are priced together at the same appointment.

Because a lump has to be examined in person before anyone operates on it. At the £75 assessment your surgeon parts the hair, confirms the cyst, checks it is safe to remove now, plans the incision, and gives you a firm price. If you decide not to go ahead, you simply pay for the consultation and leave with a clear answer.

No. Your surgeon works through a small parted area of hair around the cyst. There is no shaved patch and nothing that shows once you have combed your hair back over. This is the question we are asked most often, and it puts a lot of people off for years unnecessarily.

You will feel a sting as the local anaesthetic goes into the scalp, and after that the area is completely numb. You should feel pressure and movement but no pain. Mild soreness for a day or two afterwards is normal and paracetamol is usually enough for it.

Yes. Pilar cyst removal is done under local anaesthetic, so you are awake throughout and you can drive yourself home. There is no sedation, no fasting and no general anaesthetic.

When the cyst is taken out intact with its sac, regrowth in the same spot is uncommon. That is the difference between removal and simply draining it, because a drained cyst that still has its sac in place will usually refill. Some people are prone to pilar cysts and develop new ones elsewhere on the scalp over time, which is not the same as the original one returning.

Any surgical removal leaves a mark. Your surgeon keeps the incision as small as the cyst allows and closes with fine sutures. On the scalp the scar is usually a thin line hidden by surrounding hair. Hair does not grow through scar tissue itself, so how visible it is depends on the size of the cyst and how thick your hair is. If you have very short or thinning hair, raise it at your pre-op and your surgeon will talk you through what to expect.

Usually not on the same visit. An inflamed or infected cyst is harder to remove cleanly and more likely to recur, so the usual approach is to settle it down first and then remove it once the area is calm. Book the pre-op and your surgeon will tell you what needs to happen and when. If a cyst is acutely infected and painful, contact us or your GP rather than waiting.

You often cannot tell from the outside, and that is fine, because working it out is what the assessment is for. Pilar cysts are typically smooth, firm, mobile and painless, they sit on the scalp, and they often run in families. Sebaceous and epidermoid cysts can feel similar. What matters is that anything growing fast, hard, fixed, bleeding or ulcerating gets properly assessed rather than removed for cosmetic reasons.

Most patients are back at office work within 24 to 48 hours. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for two weeks. Your surgeon will tell you when the dressing comes off and when you can wash your hair, and will advise on brushing and drying near the wound. Stitches usually come out at 7 to 14 days, and your surgeon reviews the wound at 4 weeks.

Often yes, and it is worth asking, because pilar cysts frequently come in twos and threes. Bring every one you know about to the pre-op. Your surgeon will advise what can sensibly be done in one sitting and price the lot together, so you get one appointment and one recovery period rather than several.

For a lump that is clearly a pilar cyst, histology is often not needed. If there is any clinical doubt, your surgeon may recommend sending the specimen to the lab, which carries an additional laboratory fee. That is discussed and quoted at your consultation, never sprung on you afterwards.

No. You can book the pre-op assessment yourself, online or by calling 029 2199 9300. If you would rather have the lump looked at by a doctor first, a private GP appointment is another way in.

Yes. We work with Bupa, AXA Health, WPA, Vitality, Aviva, Cigna, Healix, Saga and Allianz, and we will help with the pre-authorisation paperwork. Contact us with your insurer details and policy number and we will advise. Self-pay prices are listed above.

Your £75 pre-op assessment can be at either clinic, Penarth or Cowbridge, whichever is easier to get to. The procedure itself is carried out at Penarth, 13 Washington Buildings, Stanwell Road, CF64 2AD, about 10 minutes from Cardiff city centre with free street parking. Our Cowbridge clinic is at Beauty Within, 10 High Street, CF71 7AG.