Pilonidal Cyst Surgery Myth 1: Pilonidal disease is best treated by a colorectal surgeon.  Not so…

Pilonidal disease has nothing to do with the rectum, and even less to do with the colon. It is a dermatological disorder. If contemplating treatment with a colorectal specialist, ask him or her “What percentage of your practice is dedicated to pilonidal disease treatment ?” Herein you will get the most revealing answer. These docs are far more prepared to answer the more common questions such as “”How many pilonidal surgeries have you done?” or “What is your success rate with pilonidal surgery?”Colorectal surgeons prefer to spend most of their time in surgical procedures more specific to their training, such as curing colorectal cancer with the use of a robot. Their lack of formal cleft-lift training notwithstanding, they would not even want to admit close to a 50% dedication level even if they had it; this is the threshold number above which we feel great outcomes are found. By the way, the top pilonidal specialists in the US generally dedicate 100% of their surgical practices to pilonidal disease! Why is this you might ask? It is because their cleft- lift techniques have been honed to such a degree that their operations are spectacularly successful in curing all manifestations of pilonidal disease including the most severe nonhealing surgical wounds…so these surgeons generally find this level of practice dedication uniquely rewarding!