A 50-year-old woman presented with a round subcutaneous nodule on her right cheek,
diagnosed as an epidermoid cyst.
Although she had been told at another clinic that
“facial cyst surgery will leave a scar,”
the lesion was safely removed at our clinic
using the minimally invasive punch excision technique
combined with advanced moist wound care (Natsui-style).
💠 Told “Facial cyst surgery will leave a scar…”
Patient: Female, 50s
Location: Right cheek
The patient first visited a local plastic surgery clinic
for a facial epidermoid cyst (atheroma).
However, the doctor advised against surgery, saying:
“It’s better not to operate since the resulting facial scar may be too noticeable.”
Feeling anxious as the cyst gradually enlarged and became more visible,
she searched online for a clinic that could treat facial cysts with minimal scarring
—and traveled from outside Osaka to visit our clinic for surgery.
💠 Punch Excision (Minimal Incision Method) for Minimal Scarring
Even facial cysts can be safely removed when the appropriate technique is used.
At our clinic, we perform the punch excision (minimal incision method)
to minimize visible scarring.
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Complete removal including the capsule → recurrence rate under 1%
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Procedure time: about 15 minutes under local anesthesia
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No sutures required
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Wound managed with Natsui-style moist healing
💧 Natsui-Style Moist Wound Healing
After surgery, no disinfection or gauze is used.
By maintaining a moist environment with hydrocolloid dressing,
the wound heals without pain, infection, or dryness, promoting natural skin regeneration.
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No disinfection
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No routine antibiotics (unless infection signs appear)
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Showering and bathing allowed from the next day
📸 Postoperative Course and Results
Immediately after surgery, mild redness was observed,
but the healing process was smooth.
When the patient revisited our clinic six years later for a different reason,
we re-examined the surgical site.
The patient happily said:
“At first I was worried, but I’m truly glad I decided to have the surgery here.”
It was a deeply rewarding moment for me as a surgeon.
🔍 FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1. Will facial cyst surgery always leave a scar?
While a completely scar-free result cannot be guaranteed (no surgery is truly scar-free),
the combination of punch excision and moist wound care allows
most scars to fade significantly over time, becoming barely visible.
Q2. Can surgery be done if the cyst is inflamed?
Yes. Even in inflamed cases, safe excision is possible in most situations.
We recommend early consultation before the cyst enlarges or ruptures.
Q3. How many follow-up visits are needed after surgery?
Please return the next day to remove the hemostatic dressing.
After that, one visit per week for about three weeks is ideal if the healing is smooth.
Q4. Is recurrence common after punch excision?
Our clinic performs about 500 cyst surgeries annually, totaling over 6,000 cases.
Among our confirmed cases, the recurrence rate is below 1%,
because the capsule is completely removed.
However, this technique requires surgical experience and precision,
as incomplete removal can lead to recurrence.
Q5. Does the surgery really take only about 15 minutes?
Yes. Depending on cyst size, it usually takes 10–15 minutes under local anesthesia.
Patients can go home immediately after the procedure.
Our Philosophy: Natsui-Style Moist Wound Healing
The “Natsui-Style Moist Wound Healing“ method was
established by Dr. Makoto Natsui,
a highly respected Japanese plastic surgeon.
This approach avoids disinfection and gauze,
maintaining a moist wound environment to minimize pain
and promote natural,rapid healing.
Our clinic practices wound management based on
Dr. Natsui’s effective treatment philosophy.
▶ Official Website: “New Wound Treatment” by Dr. Makoto Natsui (Japanese)
▶Learn more about Natsui-Style Moist Wound Healing
🖊️ Author Information
Author: Dr. Hirotaka Kohrita
(Director, Kohrita Hiro Orthopedic & Plastic Surgery Clinic)
Specialties: Orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, burn care, epidermoid cyst surgery
Experience: Over 6,000 total surgeries (approx. 500 per year),
with more than 1,000 clinical cases published on our official blog.
All cases are personally diagnosed, operated on, and followed up by the director himself.
▶ View Director’s Profile
