Do I have a Pilonidal Cyst?  I’m a woman. I thought that only guys got Pilonidal Disease?

That’s a common theory we hear from patients at The Sternberg Clinic for Pilonidal Surgery, but it’s not true. While men are more likely to acquire Pilonidal Disease, women make up a large percentage of the population of surgery patients. Yes, a woman can have pilonidal disease, (and by the way, it’s not a “cyst”).

Pilonidal Cyst or a Pilonidal Sinus?

Once you get past the stigma of being a female patient of Pilonidal Disease, you can start dealing with treating your chronic condition. Pilonidal Disease is one of the most common, but misunderstood chronic disease and affects mostly young people, often beginning in the late teenage years. Because of it’s unfortunate location on a patient’s buttocks, most people with the disease don’t want to talk about it. Even worse, many doctors and general surgeons are equally as uninformed, and can cause more damage through failed surgical techniques.

So if you find yourself asking questions like: “What is this draining sore on my backside and how do I get it fixed?  I heard about pilonidal cysts from some of my friends.  Do I have one? Is the surgery going to make my rear end look terrible?” Then you’ve come to the right place.

Patients with Pilonidal Disease should consult a colon and rectal surgeon who understands Pilonidal Disease and knows how to treat it. Many doctors may still say that you have a “cyst,” and they are incorrect.  Pilonidal disease is not a cyst. Rather it is a chronic infection in the middle skin of the crease between your butt cheeks.  

So how do you go about getting it fixed? 

Here at The Sternberg Clinic, we treat patients who require surgery with a technical called The Cleft Lift Procedure. There are only a few doctors in the United States who are experienced in this procedure, which is why you must do your research and find a surgeon who is qualified to provide you with proper care and treatment to prevent the disease from re-occurring.

To learn more about The Sternberg Clinic for Pilonidal Surgery in San Francisco and Dr. Jeffrey Sternberg, a leading surgeon in the field of Pilonidal Surgery, contact our office.

Even if you don’t live in the San Francisco Bay Area, we’d love to hear from you. Each year, more than 100 patients visit our San Francisco surgery clinic from around the globe. Learn about traveling for surgery.