Skin & Perianal Abscess
Surgery for an abscess usually requires an incision and drainage procedure under sedation or general anaesthesia depending on the size and location of the abscess.
Sunnybank Surgical’s specialist surgeons perform all types of surgery for skin and perianal abscesses. We have consulting and surgery locations across Brisbane, including Sunnybank and Redlands. Ask your GP for a referral to discuss treatment options.
What is an abscess?
A skin abscess is a collection of pus that appears as inflamed area under your skin. A perianal abscess is a collection of pus that develops in tissues around the anal canal. Abscesses are usually caused by a bacterial infection that result in tissue break down, creating a mixture of dead tissue, bacteria and blood cells.
Surgery for a skin abscess
An abscess can be quite painful and surgery is often needed to drain and clear the infection.
Before surgery, the area will be numbed using local anaesthetic. During surgery, a sterile saline solution is used to clean the area, with sterile dressings applied to promote healing from the inside out. Leaving the abscess open (covered with a wound dressing) will allow any more pus produced to drain away easily.
Aftercare is particularly important to prevent the abscess from coming back. Your surgeon will explain how to care for your wound and change any dressings and inside packing going forward. Healing time depends on the size of abscess, however, it generally takes 2-4 weeks for new skin to grow from inside the abscess around the sides of the wound.
Surgery for perianal abscess
A perianal abscess can form in the small anal glands in the anal canal. Sometimes these spread between the muscle planes to surrounding areas. The symptoms include a constant throbbing pain in the anus, swelling and fever.
Within our group we have experienced Colorectal Surgeons who can perform surgery on perianal abscesses. Your surgeon will start by examining the area under general anaesthesia. In most cases, it will be possible to drain the abscess cavity by making an incision in the overlying skin.
Surgery for anal fistula
A fistula is an abnormal connection between two epithelial surfaces, for example, the lining of the anal canal and the outside anal skin. This can be a complication of perianal abscesses and requires specialist colorectal surgery to repair and eliminate the tract between the inside and outside skin to preserve the muscle and anal continence.
A combination of procedures over multiple surgeries is often needed to completely eradicate the fistula tract. Your surgeon will provide a thorough explanation of your condition and any recommended procedures to help you understand your situation and plan for your surgical treatment and recovery.
Choosing a surgeon for abscess surgery
If you need surgery for a skin abscess or perianal abscess you can request that the operation is done by one of the experienced surgeons at Sunnybank Surgical. Our surgeons consult and operate in hospitals across Brisbane, including Sunnybank Private Hospital, Mater Private Hospital Redlands and Mater Private Hospital South Brisbane. Surgery can be arranged quicky by asking your GP to refer you to one of our surgeons or by speaking to your consulting emergency doctors.
