Is a cleft lift for mild pilonidal disease like “going after a fly with an elephant gun”? Many surgeons feel that for very severe pilonidal disease the cleft lift is the best option when performed by an…
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How do we use Functional Medicine in pilonidal patients? Treating pilonidal disease has many challenges. Of course, it is necessary to choose the right operation, perform it correctly, and care for it…
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Why do “flare-ups” occur? Pilonidal disease had a tendency to intermittantly become symptomatic and then settle down. We often refer to these symptomatic episodes as “flare-ups”. Patients often question…
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Will this go away by itself? Is it manageable with non-surgical care? This is a commonly asked question. Although I am a surgeon, I realize that surgery is not for everyone, and nobody is really excited…
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Can I just wait, and it will disappear? Although it is unusual to start getting new pilonidal disease after age 40, preexisting pilonidal problems often will not go away if they have been untreated. …
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Some of the first research on the subject The term “pilonidal” means “nest of hair”. We know that pilonidal cysts contain loose hairs. These hairs are not “ingrown”,…
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