Pilonidal sinus mainly affects young, active people. The reputation of traditional surgery — slow, painful, and leaving an extensive scar — causes many patients to delay seeking advice, living with repeated episodes of infection.
What is pilonidal sinus?
Pilonidal sinus, also known as a pilonidal cyst, is a cavity that forms in the skin of the natal cleft, just above the coccyx. It usually contains hair and infected tissue, causing inflammation and pain.
It mainly affects young men aged 15 to 35 with abundant body hair who spend time sitting down, although it can also affect women.
Symptoms
- Pain in the coccyx area, especially when sitting
- Swelling or redness in the natal cleft
- Discharge of fluid or pus
- Fever in the case of an acute abscess
- One or more openings in the skin of the sacrococcygeal area
The problem with open surgery
Traditional open surgery leaves an extensive wound that must heal by secondary intention, requiring daily dressings for weeks and a recovery period of 4 to 8 weeks. This prospect causes many patients to postpone treatment.
The alternative: GIPS technique
The GIPS technique is a minimally invasive procedure with incisions of 3 to 5 mm, performed under local anaesthesia at the clinic, without hospital admission.
- Recovery in 3–7 days compared to 4–8 weeks with open surgery
- No open wound, no daily dressings
- Rapid return to work
- Minimal scarring
- No hospital admission or general anaesthesia
If you have been told you need open surgery, it is worth seeking a second specialist opinion to assess whether you are a candidate for the GIPS technique.