You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Surgery is easier when you have a team. Here’s how to build yours—from choosing the right doctor to rallying your support network.
Why a Team Matters
- Surgery and recovery are smoother when you have medical and personal support.
- Different people on your team fill different roles—medical, emotional, and practical.
- Support systems can reduce stress, speed healing, and help you stay on track with aftercare.
Never forget that YOU are in control of this process. Nobody touches you without your authority, and you do not have to helplessly follow a treatment plan that you aren’t comfortable with. You get to choose at every step in this process. Our mission is to arm you with the knowledge to choose wisely and choose the people who have the best chance of helping you return to health.
The Core Medical Team
Surgeon
- Specializes in pilonidal disease or colorectal surgery
- Experience with minimally invasive or advanced flap techniques
- Questions to ask: experience, recurrence rates, aftercare instructions
Surgical Facility
- Hospital or same-day surgery center
- Look for accreditation, infection control ratings, and patient reviews
Wound Care Specialist / Healing Center (if needed)
Not everyone will need a wound care specialist.
- Especially important for complex wounds or slow-healing wounds
- Can teach you dressing changes, cavity flushing, and scar care
Your Personal Support Network
Caregivers Support
- Someone to drive you to/from surgery
- Help with meals, chores, and dressing changes during recovery
- This person(s) need to be reliable and trusted, especially if they are going to help with dressing changes
Family & Friends
- Emotional support needs, motivation, and companionship
- Checking in regularly to boost morale
Online Communities
- Pilonidal.org forums, Reddit r/pilonidalcyst, other support groups
- Share experiences, get encouragement, troubleshoot healing issues
Choosing the Right Pilonidal Doctor
Every doctor has their own style and philosophy. Personality also matters—you’ll work best with a doctor whose approach matches yours.
Most doctors are under heavy pressure: dealing with piles of insurance paperwork, packed schedules, and the constant risk of lawsuits. That’s why you might wait 45 minutes yet only see them for 15. Give a good but overworked doctor some grace, and don’t hesitate to report a bad one to your state licensing board and leave reviews.
Know When It’s Time to Move On
Doctors aren’t gods—they don’t know everything, and they can make mistakes like anyone else. Some are excellent, others shouldn’t be practicing. It’s up to you to notice when it’s time to find another doctor. This is your health—the buck stops with you. Don’t blindly accept everything you are told. Ask questions, think critically, and remember that a medical license only means they passed the minimum test.
It has been our experience that you can tell an awful lot about a doctor by his/her staff. A great doctor would never tolerate rude or incompetent staff. The doctor sets the tone at his/her practice, and the staff follows where the doctor leads.
How to Research Your Surgeon & Hospital
Step 1 – Verify Credentials
Look up your surgeon in your country’s official licensing body:
- U.S. – American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery or American Board of Surgery
- Canada – Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, or your provincial College of Physicians
- UK – General Medical Council (GMC) Register
Confirm they are licensed, board-certified, and in good standing.
Step 2 – Check Hospital Quality & Safety
Not every hospital is the same when it comes to cleanliness, organization, and quality of care. Many surgeons have privileges at several hospitals or outpatient centers, so you may have options. Ask your surgeon where they prefer to operate—this can give you insight into which facilities are best run and have the most reliable staff.
Your surgeon works in these environments regularly and can often tell you which places are consistently clean, well-organized, and efficient. Choosing the right facility can make a big difference in your comfort, safety, and overall experience. **Make sure your surgery center is in network.
- U.S. –
- CMS Care Compare – Official government ratings, covers all types of providers, not just for Medicare.
- Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade – A–F safety scores
- Canada –
- CIHI Your Health System – Safety and patient experience scores
- UK –
- Care Quality Commission – Ratings on safety, effectiveness, and patient care
Step 3 – Read Patient Reviews (But with Caution)
- Look for patterns in reviews (e.g., “always rushed,” “great communication”), not just one-off opinions.
- Be aware: angry patients tend to post more than happy ones.
- Many review sites rely on an advertising-based business model to sell to doctors. We aren’t linking directly to Healthgrades or RateMDs because their ratings are potentially subject to manipulation. They are a good place to start; just be aware of the business model, and that negative reviews may be hidden in exchange for payment.
- Also, watch for marketing posing as reviews. Real reviews sound like real people, not like AI or a marketer wrote them. Nobody has a perfect record, and there will be a few unhappy patients.
- Look for patterns of reviews for specific doctors that sound suspiciously familiar, all using nearly the exact same language.
Go Here Next:
For US-based patients, some advice on working with insurers and the usual billing codes. Make sure your surgery is covered.
Look for a doctor near you on our worldwide list of Cleft Lift surgeons and in our forums.
Controlling your costs starts before surgery. These are the costs involved and where you can negotiate some of them.