Want to Avoid Pilonidal Cyst Recurrence? The Right Surgical Approach Can Make All the Difference

Pilonidal disease can occur in people with deep buttock creases when their body hair is coarse and from local trauma to the area.

The condition can be chronic, and additional infections may form at or near the same location, even after the original cyst is treated. Since pilonidal disease can be painful and inconvenient, it’s not a problem you want to see again. 

At Colorado Colon & Rectal Specialists in Parker, Colorado, we specialize in the Bascom cleft lift procedure, the surgical approach that can make all the difference in preventing pilonidal cyst recurrence. Here’s what you need to know about this reshaping surgery that can make pilonidal disease a thing of the past for you. 

Pilonidal disease basics

Pilonidal cysts seem to need a confluence of events to begin in the first place, but once started, they can recur again and again unless you receive a treatment that has future prevention in mind. 

Your pilonidal disease symptoms can vary from minor to severe. The most common signs include: 

• Irritated skin above and between the buttocks, near the tailbone
• A dimple at the point of irritation
• Inflammation, like an abscess, ingrown hair, or pimple
• Drainage from the area that may be bloody, clear, or milky
• Signs of infection, such as redness, tenderness, and foul-smelling pus drainage

In severe cases involving infection, you may feel ill or nauseous and have a fever. 

Choosing the right surgical approach

One contributor to the recurring nature of pilonidal disease is the location. Depending on the depth and shape of the gluteal cleft, it can be a difficult spot to keep clean and dry. 

Considering this, it’s no surprise that a surgical procedure that makes the cleft more shallow is the best way to go. Decreasing the depth of the cleft area between the buttocks reduces the chance that bacteria can thrive and cause re-infection.

A study of 700 patients revealed that the Bascom cleft lift procedure had a success rate of 96.6%. The procedure works well in all presentations of the condition, including for patients who had previous failed surgery for pilonidal disease. 

Our proctologist, Lisa A. Perryman, MD, FACS, FASCRS, specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of pilonidal disease, with an emphasis on the Bascom cleft lift as a solution for chronic conditions. 

Don’t suffer from a new or recurrent pilonidal disease. Call or message Colorado Colon & Rectal Specialists today to schedule a consultation.