Mr. Onur Gilleard
Qualifications & Experience
Mr Onur Gilleard is a distinguished consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register. He previously held an NHS consultant post at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, specialising in skin cancer and microsurgical reconstruction. In 2021, Mr Gilleard transitioned from the NHS to dedicate himself fully to private practice, allowing him to focus exclusively on providing personalised, high-quality care to his patients. He is recognised as an expert in laser treatments, having conducted research and developed advanced treatment protocols using cutting-edge laser technology to optimise both clinical outcomes and cosmetic results.
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The only safe and permanent way to remove a skin cyst is surgical excision of the entire sac by a clinician —
you cannot reliably remove one at home. Home measures such as a warm compress may soothe an inflamed cyst, but
they do not remove it, and squeezing, popping or piercing a cyst is the most common cause of infection, scarring and
recurrence.
This guide sets out what genuinely helps, what to avoid, and exactly what professional removal involves — so you know
what to expect and why the at-home shortcuts you may have read about tend to make things worse.
Can You Remove a Cyst at Home?
No — and the reason is anatomical, not just cautionary. A cyst is a sealed sac with a living lining (the wall) that
produces its contents. To remove a cyst for good, that entire wall has to come out in one piece. Bursting or squeezing
the lump only empties some of the contents; the wall stays behind, so the cyst refills. Worse, breaking the skin with
non-sterile fingers or tools pushes bacteria into the wound, which can turn a harmless lump into a painful, infected one.
There is no cream, oil or pressure technique that dissolves the cyst wall. That is why every credible source, including
the British Association
of Dermatologists, advises professional removal rather than self-treatment.
What Home Measures Can and Can’t Do
Plenty of home remedies are suggested online. Here is an honest account of what each actually does — the distinction
between easing symptoms and removing the cyst matters.
| Measure | What it can do | What it can’t do |
|---|---|---|
| Warm compress | Ease tenderness and help an inflamed cyst settle; may encourage a pointing cyst to discharge | Remove the cyst — the wall stays, so it refills |
| Good hygiene / gentle cleansing | Lower the chance of infection | Shrink or clear an established cyst |
| Tea tree oil, castor oil, apple cider vinegar | Little to nothing; no clinical evidence they reduce a cyst, and some irritate the skin | Dissolve or remove a cyst |
| Aloe vera | Soothe irritated surface skin | Penetrate to a subcutaneous cyst or remove it |
In short, home measures are for comfort, not cure. If a cyst is painful or growing, the useful step is assessment, not
another remedy — our guide to
what actually reduces a cyst
explains the fastest clinical options.
What Not to Do
How Professional Removal Actually Works
Surgical excision is quicker and simpler than most people expect. At London Skin Clinic it is a same-day procedure under
local anaesthetic for the majority of cysts, and typically follows these steps:
- Assessment and diagnosis. A surgeon examines the lump to confirm it is a cyst, identify the type, and check it is settled enough to remove.
- Local anaesthetic. The area is numbed, so the procedure itself is painless — you stay awake and comfortable.
- Excision of the whole sac. A small incision is made along the skin’s natural lines and the cyst is removed intact, capsule included, so nothing is left to regrow.
- Closure. The wound is closed with fine sutures chosen to keep the scar as discreet as possible.
- Aftercare and suture removal. You go home the same day with wound-care instructions; non-dissolvable sutures come out at one to two weeks, and the fine scar fades over the following months.
“Dr Gilleard did a great job removing a cyst — it was pain-free and is healing well. He was very approachable and
patient-centred, and put me at ease before and after the procedure.”
The initial consultation is £100 and straightforward cyst removal is £400 (each
additional cyst in the same visit £250). See the full process on our
cyst removal page, or read how it compares with
draining a cyst.
Preparing for Removal
There is very little you need to do, but a few things help the day go smoothly:
- Tell your surgeon about any medications, especially blood thinners, and any allergies to anaesthetic or dressings.
- Leave the cyst alone beforehand — don’t try to drain or squeeze it, as inflammation makes clean removal harder.
- Wear clothing that gives easy access to the area, and arrange to keep the wound dry for the first day or so.
- Plan light duties afterwards if the cyst is somewhere that moves a lot, and avoid heavy lifting for a week or two.
Questions patients often ask
- Is it ever safe to remove a cyst myself?
-
No. Home removal cannot take out the cyst wall, so the lump returns, and breaking the skin risks infection and
scarring. Even small cysts are quick and safe to remove professionally under local anaesthetic, which is far less
trouble than treating an infection caused by a home attempt. - Can a cyst be dissolved without surgery?
-
No remedy dissolves a cyst wall. A warm compress can ease an inflamed cyst and a corticosteroid injection can reduce
inflammation quickly, but neither removes the sac, so the cyst can refill. Complete excision is the only method that
clears a cyst permanently. - Does cyst removal hurt?
-
The procedure is done under local anaesthetic, so you should feel pressure but not pain. Afterwards there may be mild
soreness for a few days as the wound heals, which simple pain relief manages. Most people are surprised by how quick
and comfortable the procedure is. - Will removing a cyst leave a scar?
-
Excision leaves a fine line scar the length of the cyst, placed along natural skin lines to keep it discreet. It fades
over the following months, and sun protection helps it settle. This is usually far less noticeable than the skin
changes caused by a cyst that keeps flaring and being squeezed. - Can my GP remove a cyst, or do I need a specialist?
-
Some GPs do minor surgery, but NHS removal is generally limited to cysts that are painful, infected or causing
problems, and cosmetic removal is often not offered. A specialist skin clinic can assess and remove most cysts the
same day, with attention to minimising the scar — particularly useful for cysts on the face.
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