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I have an inclusion cyst in the center of my cheek. About six months ago, my doctor punctured it open and drained it...in hopes that maybe it wouldn't come back. However, now I have a large pit there and about once a week it gets dark and I push more out of it. What should I do?
Optional Information: Person's Gender: Female Person's Age: 49 Already Tried: I stated this in my previous question....
These answers are for informational purposes and do not replace a physician head-to-head visit. A patient-physician relationship is not established.
While incision and drainage is an option, I find that the piper must eventually get paid. The cyst invariably will fill up again with keratin.
Thus I feel that, an excision is the best option.
If your dermatologist is experienced and confident that he/she can remove this, then he should. Otherwise, I would recommend a surgeon. The more times, this is manipulated, the more difficult the eventual excision. For now, I would recommend warm compresses applied twice a day for 10-15 minutes.
Happy to anser further questions or clarify the above.
Are you saying to do the warm compresses to see if it will resolve itself? ...or do the warm compresses if it fills up, rather than squeeze out the keratin?
also, will it leave a large scar after it is removed?
No, jujst some warm compresses until you can have it removed. It will not resolve from warm compresses at this point.
The scar will be smaller than the cyst and the fact that the skin was pulled loose by the cyst usually means it will heal with less of a scar than if one was just taking out a more say.
I would not encourage you to squeeze out the keratin since you might rupture the cyst and cause a larger, "infected" cyst.
Feel free to get back to me.
Experience: 30 years practice in general and cosmetic dermatology
I got the cyst removed...it took a 3mm punch biopsy. At least its gone, but the problem i have now is that I've always had a flawless complexion and now i have a scar and indention on in the center of my cheek. I've tried to cover it with makeup, but it doesn't work well at all.
Can you tell me what options i have to correct the indention? I think the redness will go away with time. I would like all cosmetic options...regardless of price. THANKS
I would allow the tincture of time to help. Even two months is not enough. I would give it six months. Often, the fat around the site will re-grow. However, if it does not: you might have filler such as Restylane/Perlane placed in the area, or fat injections. The cost would be about $325. We have found that the use of the IPL laser in the yellow wavelength to be very helpful ( about $150). Sculptra would be another possibility, though I would need to see the scar area to be sure. You might use this in other portions of your face. It places PLLA into the skin and this causes the collagen to reproduce, thereby taking away the scar. ( cost about $400). If the scar is more superficial this will not be of value, though.