u/Germentia

2. Why ?

On April 28, 2026, I had a consultation with a leading Ukrainian specialist regarding a surgery for pilonidal disease using the Bascom 'Cleft Lift' method. During the session, I addressed several specific questions to him regarding the procedure. Additionally, the doctor still strongly recommends undergoing laser hair removal. However, I have noticed several significant discrepancies between the original American Bascom protocol and the Ukrainian approach:

1. Sitting: According to the original Bascom protocol, patients can sit immediately after surgery. In contrast, the Ukrainian recommendation is to wait 12 days.
2. Drainage removal: In the American protocol, the drain is typically removed after 5–7 days, whereas in Ukraine, it is removed on the 3rd day.
3. Hygiene (Showering): The original protocol allows showering after 24 hours, but the Ukrainian version suggests waiting until the 3rd day

I remember How it was for th first time. I just finished with compulsory military service. At that time I've been dealing with it for 8 months. I wanted to to find a surgeon to fix this problem, but I never knew that this condition in way more serious than I thought. Blood + separation of wound after a year of surgery. I was a sailor on board, far away from home devastated I injured/unhealed. You know, sailor's craft kinda tough work to do, so physically my "cleft" wasn't ready for this kind of job. Then I've got my second surgery midline incision, thought stiches will help me out. But still no. Then third surgery I've posted here before. I live in Ukraine and we don't have pilonidal disease experts in here, so as soon as war will be ended I will do what I had to do, long time ago. Someday I want to get to Poland and get the Bascom Cleft Lift.

Subject: Why most surgeons are wrong about this disease ? Dear pilonidalcyst community, I would like to share something that some might find controversial or even absurd. Many surgeons still truly believe that this disease is strictly congenital. Because of this, they often recommend simply shaving the area until the wound heals. However, we all know that the only way to truly forget about razors or lasers is the Cleft Lift procedure. Even laser treatment cannot guarantee that a few hairs won't fall into the area from the upper body. As a 28-year-old from Ukraine who has lived with this condition for 7 years and undergone 3 surgeries, I’ve realized that about 90% of doctors don't even believe this is an acquired condition. Instead, they continue to perform invasive surgeries on people with deep gluteal clefts without addressing the root cause. It feels like these doctors are stuck in an information vacuum. Thank you for your attention. Picture 3 (Ukrainian variant of Cleft Lift procedure.)