After months of not healing following a closed surgical procedure, I would advise anyone with pilonidal cyst to have the Cleft Lift/Bascom method. Do not waste time on surgeons who are not offering this to you. Find a surgeon on this website who is proficient in this method and make the trip. I am angry that this problem receives so little attention. It is devastating. I missed two semesters of school and was basically on my side or stomach for 9 months! You will have an incision that will heal, no relapses, no open wound with packing, no wound vacs, no need to have laser for hair removal etc. Cleft lift corrects the cause of the problem. It should be the only treatment for this problem, in my opinion. Lack of education and surgeons being taught the same old ways in their surgical training is the reason for all the failed healing and trips back to the OR. GET CURRENT SURGEONS!