Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center · Santa Monica & Los Angeles
Minimal Scar Cyst Removal in Santa Monica
804 7th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403 · Near Montana Avenue · (310) 998-5533
Unwanted skin cysts should be removed as early as possible to avoid inflammation and rupture. Schedule a consultation for minimal scar cyst removal in Santa Monica with Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian.
Call (310) 998-5533 Request a Consultation
UCLASchool of Medicine Graduate
SmallerIncision Than Cyst Diameter
CompleteCapsule Excision — Low Recurrence
Dermatopathology Collaboration
PPOInsurance Accepted
Minimal Scar Cyst Removal Santa Monica
Specialists in Small-Scar Cyst Removal
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Graduate, UCLA School of Medicine · Minimal Scar Cyst Removal · Complete Capsule Excision · Dermatopathology Collaboration · Kare Plastic Surgery, Santa Monica
Skin cysts — the sebaceous, epidermoid, pilar, and inflamed cysts that develop on the face, scalp, back, neck, and body of otherwise healthy adults throughout Los Angeles — are among the most straightforward surgical excisions in outpatient plastic surgery. But “straightforward” does not mean “without consequence.” A cyst removed through an incision longer than necessary leaves an unnecessary scar. A cyst removed without its capsule wall comes back. And a cyst submitted to pathology as “obviously benign” without dermatopathologic analysis occasionally turns out not to be.
At Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center at 804 7th Street in Santa Monica near Montana Avenue, UCLA-trained board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS performs minimal scar cyst removal through an opening smaller than the cyst diameter itself — a technique that requires more precise dissection skill than a convenience-length incision but produces a dramatically less visible scar — with complete capsule excision and routine submission of all removed specimens to board-certified dermatopathologists for histologic confirmation. This is the Kare standard for every cyst, regardless of size.
< CystIncision size — smaller than cyst diameter
100%Capsule excision — preventing recurrence
AllSpecimens sent to dermatopathology
PPOInsurance for medically indicated cases
Cyst Removal Services at Kare Plastic Surgery Santa Monica
- Sebaceous & epidermoid cyst excision — face, neck, scalp, back, body
- Pilar cyst (scalp trichilemmal cyst) removal
- Infected / inflamed cyst management — drainage & staged excision
- Ganglion cyst evaluation & excision
- Multiple cyst removal in one session
- Dermatopathology specimen submission — all cases
- Layered deep dermal closure — minimal scar standard
- Post-operative scar management protocol — silicone + Vbeam
Kare Plastic Surgery · Santa Monica · Near Montana Avenue
Have a cyst that needs evaluation? Schedule with Dr. Karamanoukian today.
Clinical Presentation at Kare Plastic Surgery, Santa Monica
Multiple inflamed epidermal cysts — axillary/lateral trunk region · Large actively inflamed cyst with erythema and surface changes · Satellite lesion marked for concurrent excision · Surrounding post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from prior episodes · Managed with staged drainage and complete capsule excision protocol by Dr. Karamanoukian
Complex Cyst Case Expertise
Inflamed & Infected Cysts: The Case for Staged Management
The clinical case shown here represents one of the most common and most undertreated presentations: multiple inflamed, actively infected cysts requiring both immediate symptom management and definitive surgical excision. Attempting complete excision of an actively inflamed cyst through a standard incision produces unnecessary tissue damage and a higher recurrence risk — because the inflammatory process that has spread to the surrounding tissue obscures the capsule plane that needs to be followed for complete removal.
Dr. Karamanoukian’s protocol for inflamed cysts separates the two goals: initial drainage relieves acute pressure and infection, followed by definitive capsule excision at a planned interval after the inflammation has resolved. This staged approach produces consistently lower recurrence rates and better scar outcomes than single-session inflamed excision — and the dermatopathology specimen submission confirms the cyst type and definitively rules out rare mimics including pilomatrixoma, trichilemmal carcinoma, and other lesions that present as “just a cyst.”
Cyst Types Treated
Skin Cysts Treated at Kare Plastic Surgery Santa Monica
Epidermoid / Sebaceous Cyst
The most common skin cyst — a smooth, dome-shaped lump beneath the skin filled with keratin debris. Often has a visible central punctum. Most common on the face, neck, chest, and back. Benign but prone to infection when traumatized or ruptured.
Pilar Cyst (Scalp)
The most common scalp cyst, arising from hair follicle root sheaths. Typically smooth, firm, and non-punctumed. Pilar cysts can grow large on the scalp and require complete excision to prevent recurrence. A rare malignant variant (proliferating pilar cyst) requires dermatopathologic examination to exclude.
Milia
Tiny white epidermal inclusion cysts that develop on the face, most commonly around the eyes, on the cheeks, or nose. Individual milia are extracted through a small puncture; multiple or resistant milia benefit from laser treatment.
Infected / Inflamed Cyst
A sebaceous or epidermoid cyst that has ruptured or become infected — presenting with acute pain, redness, swelling, and tenderness. Managed with initial drainage and antibiotic therapy followed by staged definitive capsule excision after the inflammation resolves.
Ganglion Cyst
A synovial cyst arising adjacent to a joint or tendon sheath, most commonly the wrist, ankle, or digital tendon. Ganglion cysts contain a thick mucinous fluid. Surgical excision with removal of the stalk connection to the joint capsule prevents recurrence.
Recurrent Cyst
A cyst that has regrown after prior incomplete removal — typically because the capsule wall was not completely excised in the original procedure. Recurrent cysts require excision through the prior scar in a scarred tissue plane that increases the technical complexity of complete capsule removal.
Warning Signs: When to See Dr. Karamanoukian Promptly
🔴 See Us Promptly — Call (310) 998-5533
- Cyst becomes painful, red, warm, or swollen — signs of infection
- Cyst is rapidly growing or has changed character
- Cyst has ruptured and is draining spontaneously
- Cyst is firm, non-compressible, or fixed to deeper structures
- Cyst appeared after age 40 or in an unusual location
- You have a prior personal or family history of skin cancer
🟡 Elective Consultation — No Rush but Schedule
- Soft, mobile, slow-growing cyst that has been stable for months
- Cosmetically bothersome cyst in a visible location
- Cyst that has been diagnosed clinically but not yet removed
- Prior cyst drainage without complete surgical excision
- Multiple cysts you would like evaluated and removed together
“Every cyst I remove follows the same protocol — incision smaller than the cyst, capsule out completely, specimen to pathology. The pathology is not optional. Occasionally what looks like a sebaceous cyst contains something that requires a different management plan. That discovery is only possible if the specimen is examined.”
— Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Kare Plastic Surgery, Santa Monica
PPO insurance accepted for medically indicated cyst removal. Cysts that are painful, infected, rapidly growing, or require histologic diagnosis typically qualify for PPO insurance coverage. Cosmetic removal of a clinically benign, asymptomatic cyst is typically a self-pay procedure. Kare Plastic Surgery verifies your insurance coverage before your appointment. Call (310) 998-5533 to discuss your specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get minimal scar cyst removal in Santa Monica?
Kare Plastic Surgery at 804 7th Street in Santa Monica near Montana Avenue offers minimal scar cyst removal by UCLA-trained board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian — through an incision smaller than the cyst diameter, with complete capsule excision, dermatopathology specimen submission, and PPO insurance for medically indicated cases. Call (310) 998-5533. We serve patients from Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and all of Los Angeles.
Why does complete capsule excision matter for cyst recurrence?
Skin cysts are lined by an epithelial capsule wall that continuously produces the keratin or sebaceous material filling the cyst. If this wall is left behind during removal — as happens with drainage-only procedures and incomplete excision techniques — the remaining capsular cells regenerate the cyst, producing a recurrence that is often larger and more adherent than the original. Complete capsule excision removes the entire cyst wall as an intact unit, eliminating the source of the contents and producing the lowest possible recurrence rate. This is the standard Dr. Karamanoukian applies at every Kare Plastic Surgery cyst removal.
Can I squeeze out or drain my cyst at home?
No — attempting to squeeze or drain a skin cyst at home introduces bacteria into the cyst cavity, dramatically increases the risk of abscess formation and secondary infection, and ruptures the capsule wall in a way that makes subsequent complete surgical excision significantly more difficult. It does not eliminate the cyst and frequently causes it to become inflamed, enlarged, and more symptomatic. Cyst management — whether drainage of an acutely inflamed cyst or elective complete excision — should be performed by a physician in a sterile clinical environment.
Related Resources at Kare Plastic Surgery
Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center · Santa Monica · Near Montana Avenue
Schedule a Cyst Removal Consultation
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, UCLA School of Medicine graduate and board-certified plastic surgeon — minimal scar cyst removal, complete capsule excision, dermatopathology collaboration, and PPO insurance for medically indicated cases in Santa Monica and Los Angeles.