I have a cyst on my forehead needs removing. What options do I have? (Photo)

Is the bump on your forehead hard or soft?  If it is hard, it may be composed of bone.  If it is soft, it could be a lipoma or a cyst.  It would be important to examine you first to try and determine what it is.  The bump could most likely be removed surgically with an incision in an existing forehead crease to help hide the scar.   

Forehead lumps can be from the bone or soft tissue.  Some of the more common causes are osteomas (bony tumors), lipomas (fatty tumors), and cysts.  Traditional removal consists of placing an incision over the lump to gain access and extirpate the mass.  This leaves a scar where the incision was placed, albeit inconspicuous when done well.  Alternatively, the masses can often be approached from behind the hairline with small endoscopic instruments.  Usually two small incisions are made and tunneled to the mass for removal and thus leave no visible scars. 

It is probably more likely a lipoma than a cyst. Lipomas in the forehead can generally be easily removed. Often times the incision can be actually smaller than the size of the mass as many lipomas can be easily squeezed out through a smaller incision. Incisions in the forehead tend to heal very well. This procedure can be performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.

The most common approach is to make a small incision over the mass and to remove the underlying lump. Typically, your surgeon will have you raise your eyebrows while marking you to enable them to place the incision in an area where it will hide optimally. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

Cyst removal can be done directly through an incision along the horizontal direction of the scar (parallel to the forehead lines).  A more invasive (and expensive) option includes an endoscopic approach, thereby hiding the scar in the hairline.  You would likely need to be asleep for this option.