Ganglion Cyst & Foot Cyst Treatment in Los Angeles

A painful lump or bump on your foot deserves a surgeon’s eye. Dr. Alexis Dixon, MD, FAAOS, a board-certified orthopaedic foot & ankle surgeon in Marina Del Rey, diagnoses and removes ganglion cysts for good.

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Call (310) 437-7922
✓ Board-Certified Orthopaedic MD
✓ LA Magazine Top Doctor Since 2017
✓ USC-Trained
✓ 4.0 ★ Rating on Google & Yelp

Foot & Ankle Conditions

What Is a Ganglion Cyst?

A ganglion cyst is a benign, fluid-filled sac that forms next to a joint or tendon, most often on the top of the foot or ankle. It is the most common soft-tissue lump in the foot and ankle.

Beneath the skin, a ganglion cyst looks like a small balloon on a stalk, filled with a thick, jelly-like fluid. They can range from the size of a pea to a golf ball, and may grow, shrink, or shift over time. While ganglion cysts are not cancerous, they cause pain in roughly two-thirds of foot cases, pressing on a nerve, irritating a tendon, or simply making shoes uncomfortable to wear.

If you’ve noticed a bump on your foot that won’t go away, or one that keeps coming back after it was drained, it should be evaluated by a foot and ankle surgeon. The right diagnosis is the first step to lasting relief.

Get an Accurate Diagnosis

Is the Bump on My Foot a Ganglion Cyst, or Something Else?

Not every lump on the foot is a ganglion cyst. Several other conditions can look and feel similar, which is exactly why an expert evaluation matters. A board-certified orthopaedic surgeon can distinguish a ganglion cyst from:

  • Lipoma, a soft, benign fatty growth
  • Plantar fibroma, a firm nodule in the arch
  • Bursitis or a bone spur, often near a joint or the heel
  • Tendon or nerve tumors, uncommon, but important to rule out

Dr. Dixon uses physical examination, transillumination, and imaging such as ultrasound or MRI when needed to confirm the diagnosis before recommending treatment.

Doctor talking with a patient

Symptoms

  • A visible lump on the top of the foot or ankle
  • A dull ache or pressure, especially in shoes
  • Tingling, burning, or numbness if the cyst presses a nerve
  • A bump that changes size with activity
  • Difficulty wearing certain footwear

What Causes Them?

The exact cause of a ganglion cyst isn’t fully understood. They tend to develop where a joint or tendon sheath is irritated, often after a single injury or from repetitive stress and friction. Fluid from the joint or tendon leaks into a sac, forming the cyst.

They are more common in active people and in areas of the foot that take repeated pressure, which is why runners, dancers, and athletes see them frequently.

Conservative First, Surgical When Needed

Treatment Options

Dr. Dixon always starts with the least invasive option that will resolve your symptoms, and reserves surgery for cysts that are painful, limiting, or recurring.

Step 1

Observation

A small, painless cyst may simply be monitored. Some resolve on their own over 12–18 months and never need treatment.

Step 2

Aspiration & Injection

The fluid is drawn out with a fine needle, sometimes followed by a cortisone injection to reduce swelling. Quick relief, but the cyst can return.

Step 3

Surgical Excision

For painful or recurring cysts, ganglionectomy removes the entire sac and its stalk, the definitive fix, with a far lower recurrence rate.

My Cyst Keeps Coming Back

About 1 in 5 ganglion cysts return after needle aspiration, because the root of the cyst is left behind. Surgical excision removes the sac and its stalk completely, which is why recurrence is so much lower after surgery. If your cyst has been drained before and came back, it may be time for a permanent solution.

Discuss Surgical Removal

Why Choose a Physician

Why See a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon (MD)?

A ganglion cyst can be connected to the joints and tendons that keep your foot working. Because of that connection, who treats it matters. As a board-certified orthopaedic foot & ankle surgeon, Dr. Dixon is trained to evaluate and treat the underlying joint and tendon, not just the visible lump, and to perform a clean surgical excision that minimizes the chance of recurrence.
Learn why Dr. Dixon’s MD training matters for your foot & ankle →

After Ganglion Cyst Removal

What Recovery Looks Like

1

Day 1–3

Outpatient procedure, often under local anesthesia. Rest and elevate; pain is typically mild.

2

Week 1–2

Sutures and dressing managed in the office. Most patients are walking comfortably.

3

Week 2–4

Return to most daily activities and work, depending on the cyst’s location.

4

Week 4–8

Full recovery and return to exercise, with a much lower chance of the cyst returning.

What Patients Say

Patient Reviews

Kevin S. · Google
"Alexis is truly one of the most caring doctors I have met. Would highly, highly recommend."
Sara B. · Google
"Extremely knowledgeable and professional. Dr. Dixon helped me with a tough Achilles tendon problem when other doctors couldn't."
Thanh H. · Google
"I met Dr. Dixon for a foot and ankle issue and left genuinely impressed. She answered every question with a calm, steady presence."
Donna M. · Google
"On vacation, I tripped and fractured my foot. We found Dr. Dixon and they saw me within hours. Wonderful staff."
Natalie A. · Yelp
"Dr. Dixon is the best doctor I have ever had, and a talented surgeon. Compassionate, caring, and great with follow-up."
Mila F. · Yelp
"Saved my foot! After a navicular fracture and surgery, everything healed beautifully. A truly talented surgeon."
Sam U. · Yelp
"Dr. Dixon is direct, patient with explanations, and thorough. She listens carefully and provides excellent care."
Britt W. · Yelp
"She fixed a peroneal issue with the right custom orthotic when others could not. I love her, and highly recommend her."
Loni W. · Yelp
"The most thorough foot doctor in town. She took her time, and I felt very confident in her treatment plan."
Ken K. · Yelp
"She listened and did not jump to conclusions, taking it one step at a time. Caring, understanding, and highly recommended."
Benny B. · Yelp
"Dr. Dixon was very professional. She took the time to evaluate my problem and gave me a game plan. I highly recommend her without reservation."
Sherri H. · Yelp
"Dr. Dixon and her staff exceeded all my expectations. Thorough, kind, and efficient. I would recommend her and her office to anyone needing the best orthopedic care."

Patient Questions

Ganglion Cyst FAQs

A benign, fluid-filled sac that forms near a joint or tendon, most often on the top of the foot. It’s the most common soft-tissue lump in the foot and ankle and ranges from pea- to golf-ball-sized.
No, ganglion cysts are non-cancerous. But a painful or growing lump should be evaluated by a foot and ankle surgeon to rule out other causes.
Some resolve over 12–18 months, but cysts that are painful, growing, or interfering with shoes or activity usually need treatment.
Options range from aspiration (draining the fluid with a needle, sometimes with a cortisone injection) to surgical excision (ganglionectomy) for painful or recurrent cysts.
Aspiration has roughly a 1-in-5 recurrence rate because the cyst’s root remains. Surgical excision removes the sac and its stalk, with a much lower recurrence rate.
Because cysts can involve joints and tendons, a board-certified orthopaedic foot & ankle surgeon (MD) is trained to evaluate and treat the underlying joint, not just the lump. Learn more about choosing a physician.
Most patients return to normal activity within a few weeks; full recovery typically takes 2–8 weeks depending on the cyst’s location.
Call (310) 437-7922 or request an appointment online. The office will help you find a time and answer any questions about scheduling and fees.
Alexis E. Dixon

About Your Surgeon

Alexis E. Dixon, MD, FAAOS

Dr. Dixon is a board-certified orthopaedic foot & ankle surgeon practicing in Marina Del Rey, California. USC-trained and named an LA Magazine Top Doctor since 2017, she combines surgical expertise with a conservative-first philosophy, treating the underlying joint and tendon, not just the symptom. She treats ganglion cysts, bunions, Achilles injuries, plantar fasciitis, fractures, and the full range of foot and ankle conditions.

Meet Dr. Dixon →

Have a Lump or Bump on Your Foot?

Get an expert diagnosis and a clear treatment plan from a board- certified orthopaedic foot & ankle surgeon in Marina Del Rey.

Request an Appointment
Call (310) 437-7922