Pilonidal Cyst Treatment for Pacific Palisades
Trail runs in Temescal Canyon, paddle-outs at Will Rogers, long days rebuilding and living well by the coast. A pilonidal cyst puts all of it on pause. The colorectal surgeons of the Pilonidal Institute end the problem with one outpatient flap procedure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Towers, an easy run down Sunset from the Palisades.
Treatment That Gets You Back Outside
The problem is the tract, not the bump
Every flare traces back to a sinus network under the tailbone skin. Antibiotics and drainage calm the surface while the tract quietly persists, which is why the cyst keeps coming back after beach season, road trips, and long stints in the car on PCH.
Excision plus reconstruction
Our surgeons remove the entire network, then rotate healthy adjacent tissue over the site. The closure is flat, off the midline, and designed to tolerate sitting, cycling, and surfing again.
Numbers that matter
Published recurrence for this flap technique approaches zero. Compare that with the one-in-three failure rates reported for wide open excision, the operation still offered as the default in many practices.
Outpatient, start to finish
Surgery takes about an hour. You are home in the Palisades that evening, walking the same night, and most follow-up happens by photo review rather than repeat drives across town.
What a Pilonidal Cyst Actually Is
A pilonidal cyst begins when hair and debris burrow beneath the skin at the top of the cleft, forming pits that tunnel inward. Friction from sitting, workouts, and wetsuits keeps the process going. The result is a cycle of swelling, pain, and drainage that no cream or antibiotic can permanently stop.
Because the surgeons treat this condition every week, subtle secondary tracts that are easy to miss get found and removed the first time. That thoroughness is the difference between a cure and a repeat performance.
Colorectal Surgeons, Not Generalists
Dr. Yosef Nasseri
MD, FACS, FASCRSDouble board-certified surgeon and Associate Professor at Cedars-Sinai who has published extensively on the flap technique used here.
About Dr. Nasseri →
Dr. Moshe Barnajian
MD, FASCRSBoard-certified colorectal surgeon with deep experience in recurrent disease and revision after failed operations elsewhere.
About Dr. Barnajian →Recovery, the Palisades Version
We plan your comeback around the things you actually do:
- Walking the bluffs at Via de las Olas: within days
- Desk or remote work: usually inside one week
- Running, gym sessions, and yoga: about three weeks
- Surfing and board sports: three to four weeks, once the closure fully seals
No open wound. No months of packing gauze. The flap closure heals as a thin line, and photo check-ins with the surgical team keep you on schedule without extra trips.
Two Simple Ways In From 90272
Sunset Boulevard route
Sunset east through Brentwood and Holmby Hills, south on San Vicente Boulevard to Third Street. Around 30 to 40 minutes most of the day, scenic the whole way.
PCH and the 10
PCH south to the McClure Tunnel, I-10 east to La Cienega Boulevard, north to Third Street. Often quicker at midday, roughly 30 to 45 minutes.
The office is at Cedars-Sinai Medical Towers, 8635 W 3rd St, Suite 880W, Los Angeles, CA 90048, with validated garage parking. Get Directions →
Palisades Patients Want to Know
When can I get back in the water after pilonidal surgery?
Ocean swimming and surfing resume around three to four weeks, once the incision has fully sealed. Rushing immersion is the one shortcut we ask patients not to take.
Does sitting in Palisades-to-Westside traffic after surgery cause problems?
The ride home the day of surgery is fine with the cushion we provide. Within a few days most patients sit comfortably for normal commutes.
My teenager flares every few months. Is high school sports season a problem?
We schedule around it. Many families pick an early-season or off-season window; three weeks later the athlete is typically cleared for full training.
I was offered a wide excision that heals open. Why is your approach different?
Open excision leaves a wound that takes months of packing and still recurs often. The flap removes the same disease but closes the site immediately with healthy tissue, which is why its published recurrence rate is near zero.
Is one consultation enough to get a surgical date?
Usually yes. Bring or send your history and photos beforehand, and most patients leave the first visit with the procedure scheduled.
Do you take PPO insurance for Pacific Palisades patients?
Most PPO plans are accepted, and benefits are verified by our staff before anything is booked so costs are clear up front.
Trade the Flare Cycle for a Finish Line
One outpatient procedure, a short drive from the Palisades, and pilonidal disease stops being part of your routine.
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