Removal of skin lesions / cysts (excision of skin lesion or cyst)
A small operation to remove a lump, cyst or skin growth from a child, usually so it can be checked and to stop it causing problems.
✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review
In short
- It is a small operation to remove a lump, cyst or skin growth, usually so it can be examined and to stop it causing problems.
- Older children may manage with local anaesthetic; younger children usually need a short general anaesthetic to stay still and comfortable.
- Removal always leaves a scar, and some cysts can return if a small part is left behind, so ask what to expect.
- If the lesion is sent to the lab, results often take a couple of weeks; make sure you know how and when you will get them.
A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.
At a glance
A general guide. Your surgeon will give you advice for your situation.
Allows the lump to be examined under a microscope to confirm what it is
A lesion that is changing in a worrying way may need urgent specialist assessment rather than routine removal, so the right pathway is chosen.
Keep the dressing in place and the wound dry. Give simple pain relief such as paracetamol if your child is sore. A little oozing or bruising is normal.
Clear wound-care and pain-relief instructions for a child, with infection warning signs.
Keep the dressing in place and the wound dry. Give simple pain relief such as paracetamol if your child is sore. A...
The dressing can often come off after a couple of days unless told otherwise. Keep the area clean; avoid soaking...
Any non-dissolvable stitches are removed if needed. The wound should be healing and any redness settling. Lab...
The scar gradually matures, fading from pink to pale over several months. Protecting it from strong sun helps it...
What is removal of a skin lesion or cyst?
Children commonly develop lumps, bumps, cysts and skin growths. Most are harmless. Some are present from birth (such as a dermoid cyst, often near the eyebrow), and others appear later (such as a small cyst, a mole or a firm lump under the skin).
Removal is a small operation to take the lesion out. It may be done to find out what it is, to stop it getting infected, catching, growing or causing discomfort, or because of where it sits. The piece removed is usually sent to the laboratory to be examined under a microscope.
In older children who can keep still, this can often be done with local anaesthetic to numb the skin. Younger children usually need a short general anaesthetic so they are asleep, comfortable and still while the surgeon works.
Removal leaves a scar. Most heal well, but a scar is permanent, so it is worth asking what to expect for the size and position of your child's lesion. Removing a lump does not guarantee it will not come back if any of it is left behind, which can happen with some cysts.
Types, options & approaches
There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.
Options at a glance
These are the main approaches described in this guide. The right option depends on the diagnosis, your goals and what your clinician thinks is safe.
Simple excision
The surgeon cuts around the lesion, removes it, and closes the skin with stitches. The standard approach for most cysts and lumps.
Dermoid cyst removal
A small cyst present from birth, often near the eyebrow or scalp, removed through a carefully placed cut. Sometimes scans are done first if it sits deeper.
Shave or curettage (selected lesions)
Some surface skin lesions can be shaved off or scraped rather than cut out fully. Suitability depends on the type of lesion and whether it needs full examination.
Incision and drainage (for an infected cyst)
If a cyst is infected and full of pus, it may first need draining and antibiotics, with removal of the cyst itself done later once the infection has settled.
Preparing for your procedure
- Ask why the lesion is being removed, whether it will be local or general anaesthetic, and what scar to expect.
- If a general anaesthetic is planned, follow the fasting (nil by mouth) instructions exactly and attend any pre-assessment appointment.
- Tell the team about allergies (including plasters and dressings), regular medicines, and any bleeding tendency.
- Explain the day to your child in simple, reassuring words appropriate to their age, and bring a favourite comforter.
- Plan a few days off nursery, school or sport depending on where the lesion is.
- Arrange a lift home if a general anaesthetic is used.
- Ask how and when you will get the laboratory result if the lesion is being sent off.
What happens
If local anaesthetic is used, the skin is numbed first; your child stays awake but should feel only pushing, not pain. If a general anaesthetic is used, your child is asleep throughout, and a parent can usually stay until they drift off and be there as they wake.
The surgeon makes a small cut over the lesion, removes it, and closes the skin with stitches — sometimes dissolvable, sometimes the kind that need removing, or small adhesive strips. The lesion is usually placed in a pot and sent to the laboratory.
The operation itself often takes around 20 to 45 minutes. After a short period of monitoring, most children go home the same day with a dressing and simple aftercare instructions.
Is this procedure right for me?
A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.
May not be suitable if…
- A lesion that is changing in a worrying way may need urgent specialist assessment rather than routine removal, so the right pathway is chosen.
- An actively infected cyst usually needs the infection settled first before the cyst is removed.
- Removal purely for appearance in a cosmetically sensitive area should be weighed carefully against the scar it will leave.
- A child who is unwell or not fit for the planned anaesthetic should wait.
Delay or rearrange if…
- Your child has a cold, fever or other acute illness on the day of a general anaesthetic.
- The lesion or surrounding skin is currently infected.
- Needed scans or assessments for a deeper or unusual lesion are not yet done.
- You have not had a clear discussion of the scar and the reason for removal.
Alternatives to discuss
- Watchful waiting for a harmless, symptom-free lump that is not changing.
- Treating an infection with antibiotics or drainage, with removal later if needed.
- Referral to dermatology or a specialist if the diagnosis is uncertain.
- Leaving a purely cosmetic lesion alone to avoid an unnecessary scar.
Before you decide
Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.
What matters most to me?
Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.
What are all my options?
Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.
What would make me pause?
Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.
What happens if I do nothing today?
For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.
Comfort, sedation or contrast choices
If local anaesthetic, sedation, contrast or pain relief is used, ask what is planned, why, and what it means afterwards.
Benefits
- Allows the lump to be examined under a microscope to confirm what it is
- Stops a cyst or lump that keeps getting infected, sore or catching
- Removes something that is growing, uncomfortable or in an awkward place
- Can ease worry once the result is known
- Often a one-off treatment with a quick recovery
Risks & complications
- A scar where the lesion was removed
- Bruising, swelling and mild soreness for a few days
- A small amount of bleeding or oozing onto the dressing
- Tightness or a firm feeling along the wound at first
- Wound infection needing antibiotics
- The wound edges parting slightly and taking longer to heal
- A thicker, raised or stretched scar, more likely in some sites and skin types
- The lesion coming back if part of a cyst is left behind
- Numbness or altered feeling near the scar if a small nerve is affected
- A collection of blood (haematoma) under the wound
- An unexpected or more serious diagnosis on the laboratory report
The biggest things to think about are scarring and whether the lesion might come back. Some cysts recur if even a small part of the wall is left, and scars vary by site and skin type. Ask the surgeon what scar to expect for your child's lesion and position, and what the plan is if the lab result is unexpected.
Published figures to discuss
The chance of problems depends on the type, size and site of the lesion and on your child's skin. Most removals heal well with a fading scar, but reliable single percentages are not meaningful across such a varied group, so this guide uses qualitative wording and your surgeon can give a more specific estimate for your child.
| Figure | Reported range | How to interpret it | Source / confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wound infection after minor skin surgery | Low, often around 1 in 100 for clean minor procedures | Risk is higher on lower legs, in diabetes, with smoking or if the lesion was infected. | Leeds Teaching Hospitals — Removal of a lesionleedsth.nhs.ukPublished figure |
| Cyst recurrence after incomplete capsule removal | Uncommon but recognised | Inflamed or ruptured cysts are harder to remove completely and may be staged. | Leeds Teaching Hospitals — Removal of a lesionleedsth.nhs.ukSource-linked context |
| Unexpected diagnosis on histology | A minority, depending on lesion appearance and referral reason | Changing, pigmented or atypical lesions should be sent for pathology rather than discarded. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
| Hypertrophic or widened scar | Uncommon to common depending on site, skin type and tension | Children can heal strongly but scars may stretch as they grow. | Guide sourcesClinical context |
These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.
What happens afterwards
Recovery from removing a small skin lesion is usually quick. Most of the aftercare is keeping the wound clean and dry and protecting the scar while it heals.
- Mild soreness, bruising and swelling for a few days
- A small amount of oozing onto the dressing at first
- A pink, slightly firm scar line that softens and fades over months
- Mild itching as the wound heals
- Waiting a couple of weeks for the laboratory result
Aftercare
- Keep the wound clean and dry, and follow the advice you are given on when to remove the dressing.
- Give simple pain relief such as paracetamol if your child is uncomfortable.
- Avoid baths, swimming and soaking the wound until it has healed (a quick shower is often fine depending on the site).
- Discourage your child from picking, scratching or knocking the wound.
- Attend any appointment to remove stitches or to discuss the laboratory result.
- Once healed, protect the scar from strong sun, which helps it fade.
- Watch for signs of infection and know who to contact.
- Paracetamol at home for soreness
- Spare dressings if advised
- Fasting instructions followed (if general anaesthetic)
- Lift home arranged (if general anaesthetic)
- Time off nursery, school or sport planned
- Stitch-removal or results appointment noted
- Clinic / GP contact number to hand
Scars and how they heal
Removing a lesion always leaves a scar. The surgeon places the cut to follow natural skin lines where possible to help it heal discreetly. Scars are usually pink and slightly firm at first and fade over several months. Some areas (such as the chest, shoulders and back) and some skin types are more prone to thicker or stretched scars; protecting the scar from sun while it matures helps. Ask the surgeon what to expect for your child's particular lesion and its position.
⚠ Get urgent help if…
- Spreading redness, heat, swelling or pus around the wound (signs of infection)
- A high temperature or your child becoming generally unwell
- Bleeding that soaks through the dressing or will not stop
- Increasing rather than easing pain after the first day or two
- The wound edges coming apart
- A rapidly swelling, tense or very painful lump under the wound
- Any reaction to a dressing or plaster, such as a spreading itchy rash
Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your surgeon gives you.
Results & realistic expectations
A good result is complete removal of the lesion with a clean, well-healed wound and a scar that fades over time. If the lesion was sent to the laboratory, the report confirms exactly what it was; most are harmless, and the result can be reassuring.
No one can promise an invisible scar, and a few cysts can return if a small part is left behind. Make sure you understand how and when you will receive the lab result, what it means, and what would happen if it shows something unexpected and needs further action.
Once a lesion is fully removed it usually does not return. Some cysts can come back if any of the lining is left behind, occasionally needing a further small operation. Children can, of course, develop new, separate lumps elsewhere in future, which should be assessed on their own merits.
Related tests, treatments or support
If your child has more than one lesion, the surgeon may remove several in the same session, especially under a general anaesthetic, to avoid repeated visits. Whether that is sensible depends on the number, size and sites, which your surgeon will discuss.
Follow-up & long-term care
Follow-up is usually to remove any non-dissolvable stitches and to give the laboratory result, often around one to two weeks later. You should be told clearly how the result will reach you and who to contact if you have questions or the wound is not healing well.
Repeat, follow-on and what comes next
- Some cysts recur if part of the lining is left behind, and may need a further small excision.
- A scar that heals thicker or stretched can sometimes be revised later, though this is not always advisable in children.
- An unexpected laboratory result occasionally means a further procedure or referral is recommended.
Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.
What good aftercare looks like
- Clear wound-care and pain-relief instructions for a child, with infection warning signs.
- A reliable route to receive the laboratory result and ask questions about it.
- A planned appointment for stitch removal where needed and a wound check.
- A named contact if the wound is not healing or the family is worried.
What affects the cost
Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:
- Whether local or general anaesthetic is needed (general anaesthetic costs more)
- The number, size and depth of lesions removed
- Surgeon's fee and, if asleep, the anaesthetist's fee
- Theatre or treatment-room and facility costs
- Laboratory (histology) fee for examining the lesion
- Follow-up appointment to give results and remove stitches
- Any scans needed first for a deeper lesion
- The surgeon's fee, and the anaesthetist's fee if a general anaesthetic is used
- Facility/treatment-room fee
- Whether laboratory examination of the lesion is included
- The follow-up appointment for results and stitch removal
- What happens, and what it would cost, if the lesion needs further treatment or recurs
- The cancellation policy
- Whether removal of more than one lesion is covered
On the NHS? Removal of a skin lesion or cyst is available on the NHS when there is a clinical reason such as symptoms, infection or the need to confirm a diagnosis; removal purely for appearance may not be NHS-funded and criteria vary by area.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.
Consent traps and marketing red flags
These are not small details. They are often where patients lose choice, time to reflect, or realistic expectations.
Consent traps
- No realistic discussion of the scar, especially in a visible area.
- Not being told whether the lesion will be sent to the lab and how the result reaches you.
- Assuming a cyst will never come back when partial removal can lead to recurrence.
- No clear infection warning signs or contact route after a day-case procedure.
Marketing red flags
- Promising 'scarless' removal.
- Removing lesions without sending them for examination when that is clinically appropriate.
- Pushing removal of multiple harmless lumps that could simply be watched.
- Quoting a price that excludes the laboratory fee or the results appointment.
Choosing a specialist safely
- Check the surgeon is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
- Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
- You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the surgeon who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
- Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
- You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.
Questions to ask your medical professional
Take this to your consultation. A good surgeon will welcome every one of these.
- Why does this lesion need removing, and what will happen if we leave it?
- Will my child have local or general anaesthetic, and why?
- What scar should I expect given the size and position?
- Will the lesion be sent to the lab, and how and when will I get the result?
- How likely is it to come back, and what would we do if it did?
- What are the signs of infection and who do I call?
- Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
- Will you be the surgeon who carries out my procedure, and who looks after me afterwards?
- What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
- What does a realistic result look like — and what can this procedure not achieve?
- What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
- Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
- What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?
Frequently asked questions
Will my child be awake or asleep?
Will there be a scar?
Will the lump be tested?
Can the lump come back?
How soon can my child go back to school or sport?
Is this available on the NHS?
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How we made this page
Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →
Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.
Sources & standards: Leeds Teaching Hospitals — Removal of a lesion Cambridge University Hospitals — Removal of a skin lesion Evelina London — Your child's surgery to remove a skin growth or lump (PDF) Evelina London — Removal of a dermoid cyst (PDF) British Association of Paediatric Surgeons (BAPS)
Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.
Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.
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