Cysts are among the most common reasons patients seek surgical consultation in Dubai. These enclosed sacs, filled with fluid, semi-solid material, or keratin, can develop virtually anywhere on the body. While most cysts are benign and slow-growing, they can become infected, cause discomfort, or create cosmetic concerns that prompt patients to seek removal. At Surgery Dubai, our surgeons treat all types of cutaneous and subcutaneous cysts using techniques designed to minimize scarring and prevent recurrence.
Sebaceous cysts—more accurately called epidermoid cysts—are the most common type encountered in clinical practice. They form when keratin-producing cells become trapped beneath the skin surface, creating a slowly enlarging, round, firm lump beneath the skin. They frequently have a visible central punctum (a small dark opening) and may produce a cheesy, foul-smelling discharge when squeezed—which should be avoided, as it increases infection risk.
Epidermoid cysts most often appear on the face, neck, chest, upper back, and scalp. They range from a few millimeters to several centimeters in diameter.
Ganglion cysts are fluid-filled lumps that typically arise from joints or tendon sheaths, most commonly on the back of the wrist, the palm side of the wrist, or the top of the foot. They contain thick, gelatinous synovial fluid and are thought to develop from herniation of the joint capsule or tendon sheath lining.
Ganglion cysts may fluctuate in size, often becoming larger with increased joint activity and smaller with rest. They are typically firm and smooth, and while usually painless, they can cause discomfort or weakness when they press on a nerve or interfere with joint movement.
Many ganglion cysts resolve spontaneously without treatment. For persistent or symptomatic cysts, options include:
Also called trichilemmal cysts, these are similar to epidermoid cysts but arise from hair follicle cells. They occur almost exclusively on the scalp, are more common in women, and tend to be firmer than epidermoid cysts.
These rare congenital cysts contain skin structures including hair follicles and sebaceous glands. They are typically present from birth and most often found on the face, especially around the eyes. Surgical removal requires careful dissection to avoid damaging surrounding structures.
These congenital cysts develop from remnants of embryonic structures in the neck. They may not become apparent until adolescence or young adulthood and often present as a painless neck mass that becomes infected intermittently.
The most effective technique for preventing recurrence is complete surgical excision of the cyst along with its entire capsule or wall. For epidermoid and pilar cysts, a small elliptical incision is made over the cyst, and the entire structure is carefully dissected free. This approach has a recurrence rate under 5%.
For small, non-infected cysts, a 2-3 mm incision can be used to express the cyst contents and remove the capsule through the small opening. This produces minimal scarring but requires a cooperative, non-fragile cyst wall.
If a cyst is actively infected, it should first be treated with antibiotics and, if necessary, incision and drainage. Definitive excision is then performed once the infection has resolved, typically 4-6 weeks later, to reduce the risk of recurrence and ensure clean tissue planes for dissection.
Most cyst removals are performed under local anesthesia as day-case procedures. You can expect mild tenderness at the site for 24-48 hours, stitches removed after 7-10 days (or dissolvable sutures that absorb on their own), and a small scar that fades over 6-12 months. Normal activities can usually be resumed immediately, with avoidance of heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for 1-2 weeks if the cyst was in a tension-bearing area.
Insurance coverage varies—medically indicated removals (infection, pain, diagnostic uncertainty) are typically covered, while purely cosmetic removals may not be.
Any new or changing lump should be professionally assessed. Contact Surgery Dubai to schedule a consultation with our surgical team for proper diagnosis and treatment planning.