Can a cyst come back after being surgically removed?

Yes, a cyst can come back after surgical removal, but it's less common if the entire cyst sac and wall are completely removed; recurrence is much more likely if only drained or partially removed, as the lining remains to fill with fluid again. The risk of recurrence depends on the cyst type, size, and if it was inflamed, but complete surgical excision offers the best chance for a permanent solution, while methods like drainage often lead to the cyst refilling, notes St. Louis Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery and my.clevelandclinic.org.

Is it bad if a cyst comes back?

If the cyst drains on its own, it may return. Most cysts don't cause problems or need treatment. But if a cyst is a concern to you for any reason, see your health care provider. Epidermoid cysts can be treated by simple surgery (excision) with removal of the cyst and cyst wall.

What is a sebaceous cyst in the armpit?

A sebaceous cyst in the armpit is a harmless, slow-growing lump under the skin, often appearing as a round bump with a dark spot, caused by a blocked hair follicle, but it can become red, painful, and swollen if infected, requiring warm compresses or antibiotics, though surgical removal might be needed for persistent or infected cysts. While often mistaken for sebum-filled, they actually contain keratin and skin debris, and while usually benign, a doctor should check any persistent armpit lump to rule out other issues like swollen lymph nodes. 

What can go wrong with cyst removal?

Cyst removal complications, while generally rare, can include common surgical risks like infection, bleeding, and scarring, as well as the potential for the cyst to return if the sac isn't fully removed. More serious issues, especially with deeper cysts (like ovarian), can involve damage to nearby organs (bowel, bladder) or fertility concerns, while some cysts can cause problems if they burst, leading to severe infection.
 

How to remove a cyst that keeps coming back?

Minor surgery.

Your healthcare professional removes the entire cyst. You may need to return to the clinic to have stitches removed. Or your healthcare professional might use absorbable stitches, which don't need to be removed. This procedure is safe and effective and often prevents the cyst from regrowing.

Can A Sebaceous Cyst Grow Back After Excision? - The Operating Table

Can a cyst regrow after removal?

Yes, a cyst can come back after surgical removal, but it's less common if the entire cyst sac and wall are completely removed; recurrence is much more likely if only drained or partially removed, as the lining remains to fill with fluid again. The risk of recurrence depends on the cyst type, size, and if it was inflamed, but complete surgical excision offers the best chance for a permanent solution, while methods like drainage often lead to the cyst refilling, notes St. Louis Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery and my.clevelandclinic.org. 

What kind of cyst keeps coming back?

Sebaceous cysts may go away on their own, but they often come back. See your doctor if you have a skin lump that shows any of these signs: Warmth, redness, pain or swelling (could indicate an infected sebaceous cyst)

Is cyst removal a major surgery?

Cyst removal is usually a minor, outpatient procedure for common skin cysts (like epidermoid or ganglion), done with local anesthetic, but it can become more major depending on the cyst's location (e.g., ovary, kidney) and size, potentially requiring general anesthesia, laparoscopic (keyhole) or open surgery, and longer recovery, making it a significant operation. The key factors are the cyst's type, location, infection status, and surgical technique, ranging from simple excision to more complex internal surgery.
 

How to tell if a cyst is harmful?

Most cysts are benign (non-cancerous), but some are cancerous or precancerous and must be removed. In addition, if a cyst is filled with pus, that means it's infected and could form an abscess, so you should see a doctor if you feel pain when you touch a cyst.

Why is there still a lump after cyst removal?

A lump after cyst removal can be normal swelling/scarring (a healing ridge) or a recurrence if the cyst sac wasn't fully removed, especially after simple drainage; but it could also be infection or other tissue, so see your doctor if it's painful, red, or growing, to check for recurrence or complications like inflammation. 

Can an armpit cyst be cancerous?

In rare cases, an armpit lump can be a sign of cancer. More often, they're due to irritation, blockages or injuries affecting: Hair follicles. Lymph nodes.

What's inside a cyst?

Inside a cyst is a sac-like pocket filled with various substances like fluid, pus, air, or semi-solid material (like skin cells, keratin, or oily sebum), depending on the cyst's type and location, with common examples being watery fluid in ovarian cysts or cheesy keratin in skin cysts. These growths form anywhere in the body and are usually benign (noncancerous), though their contents vary greatly, from joint fluid in ganglion cysts to hair and teeth in rare dermoid cysts.
 

What STD causes armpit lumps?

Armpit lumps from STDs are usually swollen lymph nodes, most notably from Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV) (a severe Chlamydia trachomatis strain), causing large, tender lumps (buboes) in armpits/groin, but also potentially from HIV, Syphilis, or Herpes, though these more commonly affect groin nodes, or other infections like mono, impacting overall lymph nodes. Since lumps can signal many issues, including cancer, see a doctor for diagnosis. 

What are the symptoms of a cancerous sebaceous cyst?

While most sebaceous cysts are benign, signs they might be cancerous (sebaceous carcinoma) include a firm, painless, yellowish lump that bleeds, oozes, or fails to heal, often on the eyelid but also the head/neck; symptoms differ from typical cysts which are often soft, movable, and infected (red, pus). A cancerous lump feels hard, deep, and can look like a persistent pimple or thickened skin, unlike a typical cyst that might smell foul or feel tender.
 

Why does a cyst keep refilling?

Your cyst keeps filling up because the sac or lining wasn't fully removed during drainage, or the underlying issue (like clogged pores/follicles, inflammation, or blocked ducts) wasn't resolved, allowing oil, skin cells, or fluid to build up again in the same pocket, often needing professional surgical removal of the entire cyst wall to stop recurrence.
 

What disease causes cysts throughout the body?

Diseases causing cysts throughout the body often involve genetic syndromes like Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome, leading to cysts in the brain, kidneys, pancreas, and eyes, or Gardner syndrome, causing intestinal polyps, bone growths, and skin cysts. Other conditions include Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), primarily affecting kidneys but sometimes other organs, and Steatocystoma Multiplex, which forms multiple sebum-filled cysts in the skin.
 

What is the most painful cyst to have?

The pilonidal cyst, located at the tailbone/buttocks crease, is often cited as the most painful type, especially when infected, causing intense throbbing, swelling, and difficulty sitting, with some sufferers calling it the worst pain ever. Other very painful cysts include inflamed or infected epidermoid cysts (common skin cysts) and certain breast cysts, but pilonidal infections are notoriously severe and require medical drainage.
 

What are the signs that a cyst is cancerous?

You can't definitively know if a cyst is cancerous just by looking; the only way to confirm is through medical evaluation, but suspicious signs on imaging (like solid parts, irregular walls, "dirty" fluid) or changes in a lump (rapid growth, pain, bleeding, color change) warrant a doctor visit, potentially leading to a biopsy, which is the gold standard for diagnosis. Most cysts are benign (non-cancerous), but a doctor uses imaging (ultrasound, CT, MRI) and possibly fluid/tissue samples (biopsy) to tell the difference.
 

What are the chances of a cyst becoming cancerous?

Typically a benign cyst does not become cancerous. If you have a benign cyst in your body, the chances of it becoming a cancerous cyst are incredibly low.

What happens to the hole after a cyst is removed?

Frequently Asked Questions About Post-Cyst Removal Healing

The "hole" will gradually fill in over 2-8 weeks, depending on the size and location of the cyst.

Why do people get cysts?

People get cysts due to blocked ducts/glands, infections, inflammation, injuries, genetic factors, or developmental issues, causing fluid/material buildup in a sac; common triggers include clogged pores, hormonal changes, piercings, or chronic conditions, forming from trapped keratin, sebum, or blood.
 

What kind of surgeon removes a cyst?

Dermatologists are the most common specialists for removing skin cysts, but General Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons, or even your Primary Care Doctor might handle them, depending on the cyst's location and complexity; dermatologists excel at surface cysts (epidermal, pilar, sebaceous), while deeper or internal cysts might need a general or specialist surgeon.
 

Why do cysts come back after surgery?

Your cyst keeps coming back because the surgical removal was likely incomplete, leaving the cyst wall (sac) or sinus tract behind, allowing it to refill with fluid/debris; or the underlying cause, like clogged pores, hair, or skin issues, wasn't fully addressed, leading to new cysts forming in the same spot. Drainage only offers temporary relief; for lasting results, the entire cyst lining and any complex tunnels need full excision. 

What does the stuff inside a cyst look like?

Stuff inside a skin cyst, like an epidermoid cyst, looks like a thick, yellowish, "cheesy" or toothpaste-like paste made of dead skin cells and keratin, often with a foul odor if drained; other cysts can contain fluid, pus, air, or even hair and tissue, depending on the cyst type. The appearance varies, but it's typically soft, crumbly, and unpleasant.
 

Why do cysts smell?

Cysts often smell because they are filled with keratin (a cheesy, skin-protein substance) or pus, and when they rupture or drain, skin bacteria break down these contents, releasing foul-smelling sulfur compounds, much like rotten eggs or garlic, especially with anaerobic bacteria thriving in low-oxygen environments within the cyst. The odor comes from the dead skin cells, sebum, and bacteria mixing, creating a pungent, cheesy, or putrid smell, particularly from epidermoid cysts or infected boils like hidradenitis suppurativa.