Milia Extraction
We offer safe, effective, plastic surgeon-led removal of superficial skin cysts such as milia.
Milia are tiny, firm white or yellowish bumps that appear just under the surface of the skin.
Milia are most common on the:
- Face (especially around the eyes, cheeks and nose)
- Eyelids
- Forehead
They can occur at any age and may appear spontaneously (primary milia) or after skin trauma, heavy skincare products or laser treatments (secondary milia).
While completely harmless, they can be cosmetically bothersome and difficult to treat at home.
Milia are formed when keratin (a skin protein) becomes trapped beneath the epidermis, creating small, cyst-like structures.
Keratin is actually a component of dead skin cells: it is when these skin cells fail to shed naturally, that milia begin to form. This is why they can be caused by any conditions that impede the natural shedding of skin cells such as heavy occlusive ointments, sun damage or inflammatory skin conditions.
At Dr. Jenny Clinic, milia are removed using a precise, sterile extraction technique under magnification. This is a quick, safe and highly effective method for achieving clear skin without damage or scarring
Following your consultation, you will be consented for your procedure.
The lesion(s) to be removed is photographed for your medical records.
The area is then numbed using a numbing injection or cream.
The skin then cleansed with an antiseptic solution to ensure that infection risk is minimised.
The milia are extracted use of a fine sterile needle or blade to create a small entry point, that allows the tiny cyst to be removed.
Most procedures take between 15-30 minutes and you can return to normal activities shortly afterwards.
If you’re prone to milia, we will also advise on long-term skincare strategies to help reduce recurrence.
Your aftercare advice is an important step to ensuring optimal healing.
- Keep the area dry for 24 hours.
- The treated areas may appear slightly swollen or red with pin-prick bleeding for the first 24-48 hours.
- Avoid strenuous activity, swimming, or saunas until the inflammation settles.
- Avoid make-up and active or harsh skincare ingredients over the healing areas until they settle.
- Apply high-factor SPF to the healing areas to minimise pigmentation and support scar healing.
We will schedule a follow-up if required and you are always encouraged to contact us with any post-treatment concerns.
FAQs
We understand that our patients can be very busy with their daily lives and therefore it is ideal for most to be able to combine their consultation and treatment during the same visit.
Therefore, although we do offer the option to proceed with treatment on the same day (known as a ‘See and Treat’ appointment), we will only do so if you are certain you would like to proceed and if it is safe to proceed on the same day.
If you would prefer to think through all the treatment options first and make provisions for potential downtime, restrictions in exercise etc, then it is best for us to carry our your consultation first, then plan a separate visit for your treatment.
As an ethical medical clinic, we never want you to feel pressured to undergo treatment on the same day, therefore rest assured that your consultation fee is fully redeemable against your treatment, even if you decide to delay your treatment by several weeks or months.
As we always advise patients in the clinic, never feel rushed to commit to an elective, non-emergency procedure and take all the time you need to make that decision.
Although established milia require manual extraction, some simple skin care measures can help reduce the risk of them occuring or re-occuring.
These include:
1. Gentle Exfoliation (2-3x/week)
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Helps slough off dead skin cells and prevent keratin build-up
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Look for products with gentle AHAs like glycolic or lactic acid
- Avoid harsh scrubs — they can cause microtrauma and make milia worse
2. Retinoids
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Help normalise cell turnover and prevent trapped keratin
3. Lightweight, Non-Comedogenic Moisturisers
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Avoid rich, occlusive creams around the eyes and on milia-prone areas
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Look for ingredients like:
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Niacinamide (anti-inflammatory + barrier-supporting)
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Glycerin and hyaluronic acid (hydrating, not heavy)
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“My approach is one of patient empowerment and education, open and honest communication and above all ensuring that patients feel at ease and informed through all stages of their treatment”
Dr JennyBook a treatment
Personalised care, clinical precision and profoundly natural results: Your journey to skin confidence starts here
Message: +44 7476937397
Email: info@drjennyclinic.com
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