Procedure prep
Fasting Before Pilonidal Sinus Surgery
Pilonidal sinus surgery removes a small tunnel and any trapped hair near the top of the buttock cleft. It's usually day surgery under a general or spinal anesthetic. The main things to understand are the wound care afterward and what happens if it's currently infected.
Fasting for this procedure
→ Get your exact fasting times with the calculator
Medicines to check
- Blood thinners (aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto) — see medications to stop.
- Diabetes medicines & insulin need a fasting-day plan, and good blood-sugar control helps the wound heal. See diabetes tablets.
- Blood pressure medicines — confirm which to take with a sip of water.
- Finish any antibiotics you were given for an infection, and tell your team.
When this surgery may be delayed
- A hot, swollen, very painful abscess that may need draining first
- Fever, a new cough/cold, or a chest infection
- Very high blood pressure or blood sugar
- A skin infection elsewhere near the operation site
- You ate or drank outside your fasting window
Reports & documents to carry
- Photo ID and your insurance or hospital paperwork
- A current list of all your medicines, doses, and allergies
- Any clinic letters or details of previous pilonidal treatment
- Loose, comfortable clothing and any dressings you've been asked to bring
- A ride home, as you'll have had an anesthetic
What to ask your anesthesia team
- Will the wound be closed with stitches or left open to heal from the bottom up?
- How is the wound dressed, and will I need a district or practice nurse?
- How long off work or school should I expect?
- What can I do to lower the chance it comes back?
- Which of my medicines do I take or hold that morning?
Your prep checklist
Tick things off as you sort them — saved on this device only, nothing is sent anywhere.
A general guide — your hospital's own instructions always come first.
Frequently asked questions
Will my wound be stitched or left open?
It depends on the technique. Some pilonidal operations close the wound with stitches (sometimes off to one side to heal better), while others leave it open to heal gradually from the base with regular dressings. Open wounds take longer but have a lower chance of recurrence in some cases. Your surgeon will explain which they plan.
What happens if my pilonidal sinus is infected right now?
If there's an active abscess — hot, swollen and very painful — it often needs to be drained first, sometimes as a small urgent procedure, with the definitive surgery done later once things settle. Operating on actively infected tissue heals poorly, so your team may treat the infection before the planned operation.
How long does recovery from pilonidal surgery take?
It varies with the technique. Closed wounds may heal in a few weeks; open wounds can take longer and need ongoing dressing changes. Sitting and driving comfort returns gradually. Keeping the area clean, hair-free and following dressing advice helps healing and reduces the chance of it returning.