Scars · Lower back · After surgery
Pilonidal cyst scar: how to make it less noticeable
Pilonidal surgery leaves a scar at the top of the buttock crease, right where swimwear and low-rise clothing sit. These scars are often wider or more indented than people expect, especially if the wound was left open to heal. Here is what to know before thinking about cosmetic options.
Why these scars look the way they do
Depending on the surgery, the wound may be stitched closed or left open to heal from the inside out over weeks. Open healing often produces a wider, flatter or slightly sunken scar, sometimes paler and sometimes darker than the skin around it. Closed techniques can leave a line or an off-centre scar. The area moves constantly when you sit and bend, which affects how scars mature.
Healing comes first
Pilonidal disease can come back. Before anything cosmetic, the area should be completely closed, with no drainage, tenderness, swelling or open spots, and your surgeon should be comfortable that it has healed. This often takes longer than for other surgeries. If anything is still weeping or sore, please see your doctor rather than looking at cover options.
Real results and real moments
Clothing and makeup
Swimwear with a slightly higher back, board shorts and higher-waisted bottoms cover most of these scars. Makeup is possible for a photo shoot but rarely practical day to day, because sitting and friction remove it quickly.
Can camouflage help?
For a fully healed, stable scar that is paler than your skin, scar camouflage can blend colour toward the surrounding tone. It will not fill a dip, reduce width or prevent recurrence, and areas that rub constantly can hold pigment less evenly, so more than one session may be needed. Results vary. Evelyn will be direct about whether the location and tissue are a good fit. Modesty draping is standard in the clinic, and you only uncover the area being worked on.
How it works at SKINEAV
- Photo or callSend a photo or book a free phone consult. Honest first answer.
- Assessment & colour testIn clinic, Evelyn checks your skin and tests a custom formula.
- TreatmentPigment placed precisely, only where it is needed, one-on-one.
- Heal & reviewThe colour settles over weeks; follow-ups are planned if needed.
Realistic results
A realistic outcome on a flat, pale pilonidal scar is that it blends better at a glance in swimwear. Because the area moves and rubs when you sit, healing needs care: loose clothing, no long periods of sitting on hard surfaces in the first days, and following aftercare closely. Indented or wide scars will still look indented or wide; camouflage will only even out the colour.
Your next step
Ready to talk? Call 437-475-2757 for a free phone consult with Evelyn, or send a photo for a free assessment. Visits are by appointment at the clinic in Vaughan (36 Bessemer Ct, Unit 1).
Frequently asked questions
How long after pilonidal surgery can I consider camouflage?
Only after complete healing with no signs of recurrence and once your surgeon agrees. For many people this is well over a year after surgery.
Is the area too sensitive?
It can be. Discomfort is usually manageable, and sessions are kept as comfortable as possible, but everyone is different.
Will camouflage stop the cyst coming back?
No. Camouflage is cosmetic colour work and has no effect on pilonidal disease.
How do I find out if my scar is suitable?
Call 437-475-2757 for a free phone consult with Evelyn, or send clear daylight photos through the free assessment page. You will get an honest answer, including “not yet” or “this is not a good fit” when that is the truth.