Healing Progression of my open Pilonidal Cystectomy in March 2004.

12th November 2004

This is the day before surgery. A small opening is present. You can sort of see the scars from previous closed procedures. 800x600 aMar25th.jpg	The day after surgery. This pic is ugly. I'm home after spending the night in the hospital. I'll never forget when I first saw this picture. 800x600 bMar27thb.jpg	12 days after. Enlarge this pic to see how deep it goes. I think it was about 4 inches deep at the center. Starting to be a consistent color and look. 800x600 fApr07.jpg	16 days after. Looks pretty deep, but healthy. Pain is finally lessening. 800x600 gApr11.jpg
22 days after, width is closing a little bit. There is very little pain. 800x600 hApr17.jpg	1 month and 2 days in, looking better. 800x600 kApr28.jpg	1 month and 15 days. Little by little this wound is filling in. 800x600 nMay-11-04_004.jpg	1 month and 22 days. Keeping it clean and being patient. 800x600 pMay-18-2004.jpg
Almost 3 months now. It's getting there. 800x600 sJune-25-2004.jpg	Nearing 3 and a half months. 800x600 tJuly-8-2004.jpg	Nearing 4 months. This last part will seem like the longest. 800x600 uJuly-19-2004.jpg	There is still a small open spot in the center. Playing the waiting game. Click next at the bottom of the page to continue... 800x600 x8-11-2004.jpg

These are pictures before and after my pilonidal cystectomy. You can look at the date the photos were taken in the pictures filename. The first pictures look pretty gruesome and some people would wonder why anyone would subject themselves to such a procedure. My answer is simply because the cyst was painful, constantly draining, tunneling, and I was risking a serious infection. I would much rather be in the healing process than going nowhere. Newest update: Jan 21st, 2006- I am doing great. I have been working a very physical job, 40 hours a week. I have had no problems running, jumping, sitting, or climbing ladders. I'm almost forgetting I ever had surgery!