Yes I have recently done this. I could go home a day after the surgery but they said it was depending on how calm the wound was. It was quite painful cause in order to keep the wound open they stuff it with gauze which has to be pulled out and replaced 3 times a day. But it's far less painful than the bump. I don't know whether they used a vac cause I was on full anesthesia during surgery and I guess they would have cleaned it out during surgery if they did. I don't know how long it takes to heal since I've only been home for 2 days now. I have to wash it out twice a day and have to go back for checkups. Good luck.

New to the group&to this actual diagnosis but I was fully under for surgery on the on my tailbone, they cut it out&left it to heal inside out. I had a nurse to come change guaze&&pack it daily, then they taught my mom how to do it. Yes I have a crazy scar but I must say that particular one has not came back. Maybe 2-3 weeks to heal bc every dressing change moisten it, its pack with guaze with pure saline

I had one left open like this too on my tailbone (it was a pilonidal cyst). It took longer to heal than when I had wide excisions with sutures, but healing time probably depends a lot on the size of the cyst/ wound. It was also really painful, but I think that comes with the location! I hope you heal quickly and get to go home soon!

I've been there too about 4-5 times. The open wounds are pretty easy to manage. I was out the same day after the surgery. After the first two times I was mostly changing the dressing myself.

Good luck with the procedure.

Yes- and it is far and away the preferred method in my opinion. The downside is that it DOES take longer to heal. As an example I had a group of nasty little buggers on my underarm removed about 7 weeks ago. The surgeon removed a chunk about the size and shape of a pack of cigarettes. The excision was deep enough that you could see tendons and muscle.
He has me leave the bandages on for 24 hours and then change twice daily. We use a "wet to dry" method which involves soaking gauze in saline solution and then lightly packing the wound. Then a gauze cover bandage and tape that down. Hurts for a few days but if you keep ahead of the pain with the percocet it is OK. After the first few days it is almost pain free- I can shower and make sure to get in and scrub out the wound with soap and a nylon scrubby thing. At the moment the scar is about a half an inch wide and about 3 inches long. There is a pretty good sized divot due to the amount of material removed.
I have had several surgeries with primary closure but in every case have had the reoccur. With the "heal by secondary intention" approach and an agressive excision- no further problems. Need to make sure that the surgeon gets a clear margin around anything that even look suspicious.
Trust me- compared to your other surgeries- this is a walk in the park.

Good luck and keep after them!! Eradication is the answer.

From what I have read here, you will want to have a wound vac. Good luck and keep us posted.

I hope your surgery went well! I have had both. My first surgery was a very large infected cyst that I had to go the emergency room with. They cut the entire thing out and left it open for packed with gauze for a couple of days to let it drain and heal. I will tell you pulling that gauze out was the WORST pain I have ever felt in my life! I have some tips. I had problems with the "Wet Saline" to keep the wound moist. I also had problems with the cloth tape. It literally ruined my skin. Paper tape all the way! At points the rashes were worse then the wound. My surgeons nurse recommended this gel that keeps the wound moist with out killing my skin. Its called solocite gel. You cannot get it at your local pharmacy. I had to get it at a local medical supply place. It changed the way I healed! It was marvelous! It was a tad expensive (like 20 something bucks) but well worth it. The month or so it took of constant bandage changes, pain and all else that comes with a wound that big was worth it. I have multiple recurrences on my leg that was incised but sutured 6 months later but I have only had one (and after 3 years mind you) on the leg that was left open. Its a pain in the ass, but worth it. Also, make sure even if only for a week you have your doc prescribe antibiotics. I had them after my first surgery to help with the infection but not the second. My other leg has never healed and I have had MULTIPLE even worse flare ups occur. Best of luck you! Please message me if you need any advice or just someone to talk to!

Sorry to all of you that respond, I never received any notifications like I used to on my posts. Either way, thank you all for your responses. My surgery ended up being different. My surgeon was about to leave it open but his plastic surgeon OCD kicked in and he ended up closing most of the incision inside the tissue with dissolvable stitches, and leaving the rest open about an inch wide. Well unfortunately both incisions on my buttocks tore wide open anyways. I was in the hospital for 5 days and an at home healing now. I posted pictures on my page if anyone is interested in seeing them. *warning they are graphic*

Again sorry I'm responding so late, I guess alot has changed with DS since I've been away.