I am a 29 year old male. I was living with a open cyst for about two years, my first mistake. It was never painful, just irritating. I routinely asked the doctor what it was and they said nothing major (as it was not infected). I finally got a seccond opinion and a couple of days later found myself in the OR for a full cystectomy. My surgeon explained the procedure would be performed in the midline. After reading on this site, I asked him to stay “out of the ditch”. The surgeon said he knew what he was doing and I believed him (seccond mistake). The surgery was really easy. I ended up having extensive tunneling and they removed about 7 inches of skin. Recovery was relativly painless and I did not need pain medication. Of all of the surgeries I have had in my life, this had the least pain. Recovery was going well. After four weeks I went in to have my last stiches removed. That is when an infection was noticed. I was cut back open while in the surgeon’s office. I was informed that I would need wound packing daily until it heals. I have had another wound packed in the past, and this one was much less painful. In fact, I would say it is almost painless. My infection has gone away but after 3 1/2 weeks the wound has not started to shrink. I am going to my HMO’s wound clinic, but it does not seem to be helping… What I was told would be a 2-3 week process has already passed the 8 week mark. Trying to stay positive. I will post an update when I get better.