Surgery Recovery Time?

I've had the pilonidal for years, but it only got really bad last year. I had it lanced and drained over the summer, but it came back, and when I went to the surgeon, he said that I need to get it completely excised. (Open wound, packing, all that jazz)
My question is, he said that I should be back up on my feet and ready to go back to school in 3 days, and the wound should be healed in 3 weeks. From what I've read on this forum, that seems like an absurdly low estimate. Is this a valid estimated recovery time? I know that after the lancing, I wasn't feeling up to my daily routine 3 days later, and that was minor compared to this. (It's going to be a 3 inch long wound to get all the pits and the abscess.)
Has anyone had an open excision heal this quickly before?

I am not here to question your doctor in the slightest. But in my opinion, 3 weeks is definitely an underestimate if a true open excision is being performed. For my open excision, it took just about 2 months to completely heal, and I had marsupalization done, which is supposed to speed healing.

You doctor might be referring to the fact that after 3 weeks you'll feel back to normal. I took 3 weeks off of work and I really only needed to take 2. After the second week, I was back doing "regular" things - i.e. sitting, lifting, exercising, etc.

If you decide to have surgery, just keep in mind that it'll take approx. 8 weeks for the wound to fully close. If done correctly, you should be doing normal activities after a few weeks.

Ess.....your doctor's estimate sounds insanely optimistic. I HIGHLY doubt ANY excision, even a small one, is going to allow you to go back to school in three days. I'm sorry to cast doubt upon your surgeon's pilo experience, but he seems sooooo way off the mark in regards to a REALISTIC post op experience that I can't help but think that despite what he SAYS his experience with this surgery is, he really hasn't much pilo savvy. THAT is my opinion of course, based on what you've told us. I HIGHLY caution you to NOT expect to be back to school in 3 days OR to be "healed" in 3 weeks. My son's surgeon told us the same story.....he lied.

I got tired of his protestations that his simple lancing would heal....some day..... and realizing our surgeon had little experience with pilos, even though he told us he did, I took my son for a cleft lift.

He's coming up on his 3rd....or is it 4th? anniversary of being pilo free..... I can't even remember how many years its been now because pilos are not a part of my son's life anymore, and time passes without the word coming to mind.

EssTee, please allow yourself more time for recovery than what your doctor is stating? I had the same situation a few weeks back and my surgeon said that if I wanted, I would be back to work in a week no problem. I'm 4 weeks post op on an open wound excision and just went back to work today. The sitting is still a little uncomfortable but purchased a "tush cush" which relieves some of the pressure.

Yeah he sounds way off, I would be careful to find a doctor who knows his stuff.

I agree with Pita82, find a second opinion to be honest, what harm can it do to see what another surgeon thinks?

I would ask your GP to refer you to a sergeon who is experianced in this type of operation. I got a closed incision and i will be off my feet for 3 weeks. An open should be much longer.

Do some research. Find out which doc on your area knows this type of procedure and ask your GP for a referral.

I had an open (or partially open?) excision that my doctor packed and used splints to keep it 'closed' and sealed it. While I was sort of able to sit after 3 days with the help of a cushion I could never have returned to work yet. I returned after 10 days and that was even too early. (I don't have a 'sitting' job either) My opinion is to give yourself at least 10 days depending on whether it's packed and sealed like mine was or whatever is done but don't commit to a return date until at least 5 days in. Only you can really tell at that point. Good luck with everything!

Thanks all. I had a look again this morning. I slept in a position which gives my wound more exposure to air last night and it looks better today. I will not see the GP because in 26 hours I have an appointment with the surgeon anyways.

Ignore above post, wrong thread sorry

He's a colo-rectal surgeon, and he sounded like he had a lot of experience, which is why I don't understand the recovery time estimate. He was the second opinion, and he came pretty highly referred. Is it possible that he's telling me a shorter time now to make me less worried about the whole thing?

I think it depends on the wound size..My wound was 2.5cm x 2.5cm and I am 99% healed (25 days post-op) - I am a 23 year old male and apparently I heal fast but I am a smoker so I have been told that smoking slows the healing process. It's a very tough thing to estimate because you might heal 90% then the final 10% may take even longer to close over so it's a very tough question but good luck

I have heard anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 weeks. My wound hasn't healed together they said when I went in to get my stitches out. I had my wound closed, but now we'll have to do open. ..I guess if mine healed it wouldn't be such a problem and I wouldn't be in so much pain .The meds are saving me!

My Dr also told me 3-4 weeks and I would be fine. He was wrong.

I guess we all have our own rate of recuperation. ..

I know this thread is probably long dead and done with, but it's the thread that brought me to this site.

I guess it depends on what type of anaesthetic is used (I hear general takes a while to wear off, but I had local, two days ago, and am planning on starting a new job in another day... I feel ok, except for when I bump it...

Maybe this is because of the immense amount of pain I was in BEFORE surgery, and so the slight pain now feels like nothing at all.

When I say "feel ok" I don't mean it has closed. It's still an open wound, and I need to get the Keltostat changed every day at the moment, but I have been told I can start exercising again if I feel up to it, but to stop if it feels particularly sore afterwards.

You can get quite a lot done, even when you DO have an open wound in your backside...

YOUR DR MIGHT BE A COLON RECTAL SURGEON THAT CAME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BUT SO WAS MINE, I HAVE HAD 2 OPEN HEALING SURGERIES AND CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU WILL NOT BE BACK TO WORK IN 3 DAYS. I TO TOOK 2 WEEKS OFF OF WORK AND DONT THINK I COULD HAVE COME BACK ANY SOONER, AND WHEN I DID GO BACK TO WORK I STILL WAS NOT WORKING FULL TIME. IF YOU DR IS WILLING TO LIE TO YOU ABOUT THE RECOVERY TIME MAYBE HE IS LYING ABOUT OTHER THINGS TO. I HAD TO SEE MY SURGEON 3 WEEKS AGO(THE ONE THAT SAID THAT HE HAD ALOT OF EXPERIENCE AND CAME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) BECAUSE I AM HAVING SOME MORE PROBLEMS TOLD ME THAT MY PD HAS COME BACK AND WANTED TO SCHED ME FOR ANOTHER SURGERY, I HAVE SINCE SEEN 2 OTHER DRS( 1 I DROVE 4 HOURS TO SEE LAST WEEK BECAUSE HE DOES CLEFT LIFTS) AND BOTH HAVE TOLD MY THAT MY PD HAS NOT RETURNED. IF I WERE YOU I WOULD LOOK FOR ANOTHER DR. IT IS VERY HARD TO FIND DRS THAT REALLY DO KNOW MUCH ABOUT THIS BUT THERE ARE PLENTY THAT TELL YOU THEY ARE EXPERTS