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For lesions that keep coming back, surgery might offer relief. Learn about your surgical options.
Surgery might be your best option for relief if you have inflamed deep tunnels and hard lumps (nodules) within your skin caused by advanced hidradenitis suppurativa.
While effective, due to the potential for scarring this treatment is usually reserved for people who have advanced hidradenitis suppurativa or whose condition can't be managed with lifestyle changes or medication.
If you're interested in surgery to treat your hidradenitis suppurativa, here's what you need to know.
Your doctor or surgeon can use several different procedures to remove nodules, lesions and tracts beneath your skin and help control inflammation. Options include:
After surgery, you'll likely also need treatment with lifestyle changes and, possibly, antibiotics, biologics, oral retinoids or hormonal therapy. These therapies can help prevent your hidradenitis suppurativa from returning. Your doctor can advise which treatment is appropriate for you based on the severity of your condition and how effective other treatments have been for you in the past.
Unfortunately, major surgery to remove the tunnels and nodules beneath the skin can cause significant disfiguring scars. However, it's often the best option to treat aggressive hidradenitis suppurativa that doesn't respond to other treatments. Before having surgery, make sure you understand the extent of the scarring you're facing and the healing process ahead.
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