Medically Necessary Cosmetic Surgery?

to quickly sum things up-

Back in September when I saw my GP (in the US), he noticed I had things growing in my armpit as part of my breast exam. He wrote them off as my body producing skin tags, as I have a small one farther down on my arm and one on the back of my neck.  The Doc told me if they started to bother me, they could be frozen off as an in-office procedure, but otherwise, totally normal and nothing to worry about.

There was one on my Left arm that just kept getting bigger and bigger. This morning, it ws about the size of a US Dime and smooth to the touch. It was so puffy that the skin was splitting and erm....well, let's just say that it's no longer the size of a US Dime and it was gross to clean up.

So, I managed to snag an appointment today with the Doctor, and he todl me they aren't skin tags (and apologized), but are Sebaceous Cysts.  The fortunate thing is Sebaceous Cysts are totally treatable with antibiotics (which I'm now on).  The UNfortunate things is that they never fully go away. They will continually recur exactly where you previously had one....unless you have surgery to have the cyst completely cut out/removed. This is considered a cosmetic procedure, but a medically necessary one.

The Nurse called a few surgeons for me (locally) and there were no open appointments until well past when I plan to be in the UK.  Since it's not an emergency, my doctor suggested I just wait and see a doctor in the UK.

Will the NHS cover the surgery to have them removed?  Is there any type of private insurance we could pay into that would cover it, or are we screwed since it's technically a cosmetic procedure?

Having just had plastic surgery on the NHS....if they see it as strictly cosmetic...no they won't do anything about it. Sorry.

But if it is affecting your daily life they yes the might consider it. Once you get over here register with a GP and get him to refer you. Every area is vastly different to what they will and won't do on their NHS system. Each PCT might have a different criteria than the next.

I would give it a shot. If it's a no then try something else but at least you will know!

Good luck!

I have 3 sebaceous cysts and my GP basically said the same thing your GP did. You can have them removed but they will most likely come back. Its also not really surgery. Its done in my GPs office and only takes a couple of minutes.

I had one removed in the US and I wish I hadn't. It was only noticable if you touched it and felt the bump, but now there's a scar there. It also came back after about a year so now I have the bump and scar so its more obvious. One of mine is also on my scalp and to have it removed, they have to shave the hair around it which I think is far worse than a little bump that only I know is there.

Unless its somewhere really noticable like your face, I wouldn't bother. There's a good chance it will return and you may end up with a scar to boot. Obviously, if it changes colour or is painful, you should see a GP asap.

My husband gets sebaceous cysts on his scalp. He's had a few removed, which was no problem to do on the NHS (in his GP's office, classed as minor surgery.) It does leave a bit of a scar, though.

The last one he had removed was about 2 years ago and as I recall there was never a question of it being "plastic surgery" and the GP never gave him a hard time about it.  He just went in to see her, she diagnosed it, made an appointment for his surgery and then removed it and stitched him up.

My husband gets sebaceous cysts on his scalp. He's had a few removed, which was no problem to do on the NHS (in his GP's office, classed as minor surgery.) It does leave a bit of a scar, though.

The last one he had removed was about 2 years ago and as I recall there was never a question of it being "plastic surgery" and the GP never gave him a hard time about it.  He just went in to see her, she diagnosed it, made an appointment for his surgery and then removed it and stitched him up.

Thanks Springhaze, that makes me feel a LOT better about it!  I was worried it involved going to the hospital. I wonder why here my GP called it cosmetic surgery and said it would require a plastic surgeon?

I have 3 sebaceous cysts and my GP basically said the same thing your GP did. You can have them removed but they will most likely come back. Its also not really surgery. Its done in my GPs office and only takes a couple of minutes.

I had one removed in the US and I wish I hadn't. It was only noticable if you touched it and felt the bump, but now there's a scar there. It also came back after about a year so now I have the bump and scar so its more obvious. One of mine is also on my scalp and to have it removed, they have to shave the hair around it which I think is far worse than a little bump that only I know is there.

Unless its somewhere really noticable like your face, I wouldn't bother. There's a good chance it will return and you may end up with a scar to boot. Obviously, if it changes colour or is painful, you should see a GP asap.

Hmm. My doctor told me they would come back unless I had them removed.  Interesting. I think i'll have them removed. The ones in my armpit really bother me, and the one on my arm is also a nuisance.  Having a scar doesn't really bother me, I'd rather the white scar than the ugly red cyst to be honest, though I can see where you wouldn't want one on our scalp removed!