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Draining an abscess or boil
abscess drainage · boil lancing · draining a boil · incision and drainage
A surgeon numbs the skin, makes a small cut, and lets the pus out. Then the wound is rinsed and bandaged.
When pus has built up under the skin: the boil hurts, is red, gets soft in the center, and does not open by itself.
⏱ Duration: usually 15 to 30 minutes, then dressing changes for a few days
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- At home. Do not squeeze or pop the boil yourself, especially on the face. The pus can go deeper.
- Food. You can eat. A light meal 1 to 2 hours before is best.
- Clothes. Loose clothes, so they do not press on the bandage.
What to bring
- Your referral
- A list of your medicines
- Your blood sugar test results, if you have them
How it goes
- The doctor looks at the boil
- The skin around it is cleaned with antiseptic
- You get a numbing injection, and the skin goes numb
- A small cut is made and the pus is let out
- The pocket is rinsed. Sometimes a thin strip is left in to let it drain
- A bandage is put on
What you'll feel
- The numbing injection burns for a few seconds
- Then you feel pressure, but not pain. If it hurts, tell the doctor
- When the numbing wears off, the area will ache. Regular painkillers help, as your doctor advises
Afterwards
- Dressing changes are usually daily or every other day, at the clinic or at home as instructed
- Keep the bandage clean and dry
- Antibiotics are not always needed. Take them only if your doctor prescribed them
- The wound usually heals in 1 to 2 weeks. Sometimes a small mark stays
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Redness spreading, a red streak from the wound, fever and chills: see a doctor right away
- A boil on the face with a headache, swelling near the eye, or high fever: call emergency services
Common questions
Can I squeeze a boil myself?
No. The infection can go deeper, and on the face it can even reach the blood vessels of the head. It is better to see a surgeon.
Does draining a boil hurt?
With local numbing, usually only the injection hurts. After the procedure, the pain often gets less, because the pus no longer presses.