Sebaceous cyst removal - private cost?

[butchstewie]

Just back from taking my mum to the hospital as she has a sebaceous cyst on her head that has been there for decades and recently has started to redden and to paraphrase the consultant "it's going to go at some point".

They did the medical photography so my mum is now on the list to have it removed but apparently that could be a couple of months.

Never really made use of private healthcare before but if there is an option to have it dealt with quicker she's open to it.

If you're not a member of Bupa or some equivalent scheme where do you actually start?

Literally just try to find somewhere reputable and pick up the phone?

[markiii]

wife just had one done and found everywhere quoted much the same at from memory £90 for the consultation and £450 to remove

place she used In Hitchin was really good

[craig1912]

Don’t know where you are but this guy does it

https://simonpayne.co.uk/treatments/head-scalp-cys...

I’d just google for somewhere local. It’s literally 20-30 minute appt.

[Mr Pointy]

If you are near Maidenhead this clinic is good - it could get pretty pricey though especially if they send it off for lab tests. For a 2-3cm cyst it would be £435 plus £120 for the lab tests. Some of the work you see on the TV would cost thousands.

[the-photographer]

You will want a consultant plastic surgeon or dermatologist

Search on https://www.phin.org.uk , BUPA or any of the insurance companies website

Cost, say £250 - £500

[FoolsErrand]

Is it interfering with her ability to wear a helmet for cycling/potholing/skydiving etc.?

[butchstewie]

No and I don't think I'll convince her to jump out a plane to get it done quicker

[butchstewie]

markiii said:

wife just had one done and found everywhere quoted much the same at from memory £90 for the consultation and £450 to remove

place she used In Hitchin was really good

Thanks this would be the Midlands area.

Mind if I ask what the experience was like?

Not literally the gory bits but literally phone up see someone and get it sorted out a short while later?

Appreciate there's a lot of "it depends" in there.

[Arnold Cunningham]

the-photographer said:

You will want a consultant plastic surgeon or dermatologist

Search on https://www.phin.org.uk , BUPA or any of the insurance companies website

Cost, say £250 - £500

Yes, make sure it's a specialist. The local gp surgery removed one on my wife's shoulder. Didn't remove it all properly & grew back.
Had another go and this time did remove it, but made a mess of the stitches.
She now has a circular scar about 20mm diameter where it was.

Whereas my DIY one that was a similar size that I pulled out 20 years ago left a tiny scar about 2.5mm diameter.

Obviously I'm not saying DIY it, but I am saying get a specialist on the case, not a GP.

[the-photographer]

butchstewie said:

markiii said:

wife just had one done and found everywhere quoted much the same at from memory £90 for the consultation and £450 to remove

place she used In Hitchin was really good

Thanks this would be the Midlands area.

Mind if I ask what the experience was like?

Not literally the gory bits but literally phone up see someone and get it sorted out a short while later?

Appreciate there's a lot of "it depends" in there.

Find a dermatologist online, contact secretary ask about waiting times
If acceptable make an appointment for initial meeting
Consultant will take a quick look
Phone secretary again, book procedure

[silentbrown]

I've had two. The first was done in a BUPA hospital and covered under company's health insurance. God knows how much they charged.

The second was done in our local GP surgery as a minor op. Local anaesthetic, in and out in about 15 minutes.

Why is there a consultant even involved??

[butchstewie]

Referred by the GP to dermatology and that's who the appointment was with.

[Badda]

the-photographer said:

You will want a consultant plastic surgeon or dermatologist

Search on https://www.phin.org.uk , BUPA or any of the insurance companies website

Cost, say £250 - £500

You do not require a consultant plastic surgeon to do this, utterly ridiculous!
They have a habit of returning unfortunately which is why there’s little point having small ones removed.
We have a GP who specialises in these and has a clinic once a month dealing with them, his work is exceptional for example.

[the-photographer]

Badda said:

You do not require a consultant plastic surgeon to do this, utterly ridiculous!
They have a habit of returning unfortunately which is why there s little point having small ones removed.
We have a GP who specialises in these and has a clinic once a month dealing with them, his work is exceptional for example.

See above message from Arnold, but yes dermatologist is a good middle ground

[silentbrown]

the-photographer said:

See above message from Arnold, but yes dermatologist is a good middle ground

To be fair, there's probably a small chance of a botched job whoever does it. My GP-handled one was very good.

[Arnold Cunningham]

I think GP is under so much strain these days that they’ll be relieved to not have to do it.

Personally, I’d go private and find someone localish with experience of removing them. IIRC Sometimes they are fused in a bit, can be a bit tricky to remove. It all depends.