That lump under your skin, taken out for good

The pre-op assessment is £75. Removal of a single sebaceous 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 — a small one on the back sits at one end, one on the face closer to the other — and it is confirmed at your assessment before any surgery is booked. More than one cyst is 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 confirms the cyst, checks it is safe to remove now, plans the incision and closure, 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.

Cysts on the face are removed the same way as anywhere else, but the scar matters more, so more of the pre-op is spent talking about where the incision goes, how it is closed and what the scar will look like as it settles. Your surgeon will lay out the options honestly, and you will get straight answers on what a small scar is likely to look like in your particular case. If a cyst on the face has a poorly placed punctum, that is discussed too.

You will feel a sting as the local anaesthetic goes in, 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. Sebaceous 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 whole point of a full excision rather than simply draining it, because a drained cyst that still has its sac in place will usually refill. Some people are prone to sebaceous cysts and develop new ones elsewhere 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, and the scar generally fades considerably over 6 to 12 months. The final look depends on the size of the cyst, where it is, and how your skin heals. Scars on the face are talked through more carefully at the pre-op, because placement and closure matter more there than on the back.

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. Sebaceous cysts are typically smooth, firm, mobile and painless, they sit under the skin, and many have a small central pore. Lipomas, pilar cysts and other benign lumps 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, strenuous exercise, saunas and swimming for two weeks. Your surgeon will tell you when the dressing comes off and when the wound can get wet in the shower. 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. Bring every cyst you know about to the pre-op. Your surgeon will advise what can sensibly be done in one sitting — that depends on where the cysts are and how big they are — and price the lot together, so you get one appointment and one recovery period rather than several.

For a lump that is clearly a sebaceous 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.