Category: Minor surgery

Tens of thousands of abscess drainage procedures are performed annually in primary care offices. While many consider an abscess a mere inconvenience, the question of whether its removal constitutes a major surgery is crucial for patient understanding. Generally, a straightforward abscess removal is considered a minor procedure.

Podiatrists perform thousands of toenail removal procedures annually, and the vast majority are considered minor surgery. For many, a procedure to address a problematic nail is the fastest path to relief, which is why people often ask, "Is removing a toenail a big deal?"

According to StatPearls, incision and drainage (I&D) is a widely used procedure for skin abscesses. For the question, **Are you awake for an incision and drainage procedure?**, the answer often depends on the abscess's size, location, and a patient's overall health, though local anesthesia is most common.

According to the National Institutes of Health, incision and drainage is a common procedure used to treat skin and soft tissue abscesses, often resulting from infected cysts. Understanding **how do they surgically drain a cyst** can empower you to feel more prepared and less anxious about the process.

While the term "minor surgery" is often used, there is an old saying in medicine: "There's no such thing as minor surgery when it's happening to you". However, by clinical definition, a minor surgery is a low-risk procedure, and examples can include a skin biopsy or a simple dental extraction.

The biggest misconception about cyst removal is that the process is agonizing, but for most people, the procedure itself is pain-free. This is because it is performed under local anesthesia, which numbs the area completely. Understanding this process can significantly reduce anxiety about how painful is it to get a cyst removed.