Service
Sebaceous cyst
A sebaceous cyst (atheroma) is a collection of the contents of a sebaceous gland under the skin. It forms when the gland's outlet duct closes, so the contents stay inside and build up.
What concerns does it address?
Why does it get inflamed?
While it is closed, a sebaceous cyst usually causes no trouble. If bacteria get into it, it becomes inflamed — painful, red and warm.
Inflammation is not a sign that anyone neglected something. The duct closes by itself, and once the contents have built up, the body cannot break them down.
A sebaceous cyst is not dealt with by pressing or squeezing — the capsule that holds the contents stays in place, so the build-up repeats, and squeezing introduces bacteria and is often the start of inflammation.
How is it removed?
A sebaceous cyst is removed together with its capsule. The removed tissue is sent for histopathological analysis.
A non-inflamed cyst is removed through a short incision above it — with smaller cysts through an opening smaller than the cyst itself, through which the contents are emptied and the whole capsule is drawn out. The capsule is the key: if even the smallest part stays, the contents build up again. The wound is stitched.
An inflamed cyst is removed differently, in two steps. While it is inflamed, the capsule is soaked with inflammation and cannot be taken out whole, and stitching an inflamed wound would trap the pus. So an inflamed cyst is first opened and emptied, and the wound is left to drain and is dressed, with an antibiotic if needed. When the inflammation settles — usually after a few weeks — the capsule is removed completely, as with a non-inflamed cyst. That is why an inflamed sebaceous cyst has a separate item in the price list.
When is the procedure not suitable?
With an inflamed cyst, the inflammation is not a reason to wait but a reason to open it, and the capsule is removed once it has settled. A sebaceous cyst on the scalp is removed without shaving the whole head — only along the incision. A lump on a testicle or in the scrotum belongs to urology. What it can be and when to come for an examination is described on the page Testicular lump.
General reasons for postponing a procedure (pregnancy, breastfeeding, inflammation, a clotting disorder, smoking): When is a procedure postponed?
Anaesthesia
Before a procedure under general or regional anaesthesia, you are seen by the anaesthetist, who works full time at the clinic; the same doctor is also present during the procedure. The anaesthetic assessment and the anaesthesia for larger operations are included in the price of the procedure. What happens before, during and after anaesthesia is described on the Anaesthesia page.
Risks
Occasional — wound infection, build-up again if the capsule was not removed completely, a wider or sunken scar after a large or inflamed cyst.
Expected, and rare but serious → Risks and complications: what is the course of healing, and what is a complication?
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Sebaceous cyst (atheroma), smaller | €200–300 |
| Sebaceous cyst, larger | €300–400 |
| Inflamed sebaceous cyst on the body, smaller | €400 |
| Inflamed sebaceous cyst on the body, large | €500 |
| Inflamed sebaceous cyst on the head, small and medium | €500 |
Specialist and team
Specialty: general surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
What happens at the examination?
The first examination lasts 30 to 45 minutes on average. The surgeon examines the area you are concerned about, asks about illnesses, medicines, allergies and previous operations, and talks with you about what you expect. If the procedure is appropriate and likely to help, you receive a plan: which procedure is proposed, under which anaesthesia, what recovery looks like and what is included in the price. If the procedure is not needed or would not give you what you expect, you will hear that at the examination too.
What if the result is not as agreed?
The result of a procedure is assessed at a follow-up visit, once the swelling has gone down and the scar has matured, not in the first weeks. If it differs from what was agreed at the examination, the same surgeon carries out the correction.
→ Poliklinika Barbel's correction policy
Frequently asked questions
How does a sebaceous cyst differ from a lipoma? A sebaceous cyst is a collection of the contents of a sebaceous gland; it lies under the skin and often has a visible dot — the closed duct — on the surface; it can become inflamed. A lipoma is a collection of fatty tissue; it is soft, moves under your fingers and does not become inflamed.
→ Lipoma
Why does a sebaceous cyst come back? Because part of the capsule was left — after squeezing, after incomplete removal, or after an inflamed cyst was opened and its capsule was not removed once the inflammation settled. A cyst removed with its whole capsule, as a rule, does not come back in the same place; a new one in another place can appear regardless.
Does a sebaceous cyst have to be removed while it is not inflamed? It does not have to be, but it is simpler then: a smaller incision, one procedure, the capsule comes out whole, the scar is smaller. An inflamed cyst needs two steps and leaves a larger scar. If a cyst is growing, bothers you or has already become inflamed once, it is sensible to remove it while it is quiet.
How much does the result depend on care after the procedure? The larger the procedure, the more it depends on it, but it always does. Healing takes weeks and months and happens almost entirely at home, so the instructions you receive when you go home, about the wound, physical activity and the scar, are part of the procedure, not a recommendation.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.