Ultrasound-guided cyst aspiration and drainage
Cyst aspiration means the doctor drains the fluid from a cyst through a thin needle. It all happens under ultrasound guidance. On the screen you can see the cyst, the needle and the moment the cyst empties. There is no cut. No stitches. The procedure takes 15-30 minutes, and most patients go home straight away. If needed, the fluid goes to the lab for cytology. At Oberig Clinic aspirations are done by experienced ultrasound doctors and an interventional radiologist on expert-class scanners.
When you need it
Most simple cysts need no treatment at all. Doctors just keep an eye on them. Aspiration makes sense when a cyst hurts, presses on nearby organs or nerves, grows fast, looks unusual on ultrasound, or the doctor needs to know what the fluid is. Often it diagnoses and treats at the same time. The cyst is emptied and does not come back. If the cavity is large or infected, a thin drain stays in for a few days.
Breast cyst aspiration
Breast cysts are the most common reason for aspiration. Large, tense cysts cause pain and a feeling of fullness before a period. The doctor inserts a thin needle, draws off the fluid, and the cyst collapses right on the screen. If the cyst looks unusual, the fluid goes for cytology. It feels like a normal injection, and you usually need no numbing. Read more about why cysts form and how they are treated on our breast cyst page.
Ovarian cysts: when aspiration makes sense
Functional ovarian cysts usually go away on their own within 1-3 menstrual cycles, so there is no rush to drain them. A fertility doctor may suggest draining a cyst before IVF if it gets in the way of stimulation or egg collection. A gynaecologist always makes the call after an ultrasound. In the price list it appears as "fine-needle vacuum aspiration of fluid-filled lesions". It costs UAH 4,625, with medicines and supplies included. If needed, the fluid goes for cytology. Read more about cyst types on our ovarian cyst page.
Draining an endometrioma (a "chocolate" cyst) is usually not a treatment. After the puncture it often fills up again. The standard is keyhole (laparoscopic) removal that spares as much ovarian tissue as possible. A ruptured cyst is a different story. A needle puncture through the back wall of the vagina quickly shows if there is blood in the abdomen. This is an emergency. If you have sudden severe pain low in the abdomen, call 3003.
Baker's, kidney and liver cysts
A Baker's cyst is a fluid pocket behind the knee, linked to the joint. Draining it eases the pressure and pain. The fluid is removed under ultrasound, and an orthopaedic surgeon treats the cause inside the joint. Otherwise the cyst refills. Kidney and liver cysts are drained through the skin when they are large, painful or block the flow of urine or bile. An interventional radiologist does these procedures. Simple kidney cysts with no symptoms usually need no treatment. Your doctor will tell you if follow-up is needed.
What happens during the procedure
- the doctor does a check scan, measures the cyst and picks a safe path for the needle,
- the skin is cleaned with antiseptic, and a local anaesthetic is used if needed,
- a thin needle goes into the cyst under screen guidance, and the fluid is drawn off,
- for a large cavity, a drain goes in or a sclerosing agent is used when indicated,
- a dressing goes on the puncture site, a final scan follows, and you go home.
No special preparation. Tell the doctor if you take blood thinners or are allergic to local anaesthetics. Bring earlier ultrasound reports and mammograms.
Common questions
Does it hurt?
Not really. It feels like a normal injection. The needle is thin. For deeper cysts the doctor numbs the area. No general anaesthetic is needed for surface cysts.
Can an ovarian cyst be drained without anaesthesia?
It depends on where the cyst is and on your health. The gynaecologist and anaesthetist choose the pain relief together, from local numbing to a short IV anaesthetic. An IV anaesthetic of up to 30 minutes costs UAH 1,975.
Can the cyst come back?
Yes. Some cysts refill, especially large ones and endometriomas. A check scan follows in 1-3 months, and the doctor decides if you need other treatment.
What can I do afterwards?
Get back to your normal day. Keep the puncture site dry for 24 hours and do not strain the area. If you get a fever, redness or pain that keeps growing, call your doctor.
Cyst aspiration prices at Oberig Clinic
Breast cyst aspiration costs UAH 1,465, as it counts as a surface cyst. Kidney cyst drainage costs UAH 5,510. For a Baker's cyst the price depends on the method, through the joint or as a surface cyst, and the doctor picks the right option. Ovarian cyst aspiration costs UAH 4,625, and cytology of the fluid is UAH 665 extra. You see a gynaecologist first (UAH 1,640).
| Procedure | Price |
|---|---|
| Ultrasound-guided aspiration and drainage of surface cysts | UAH 1,465 |
| The same, by Honoured Doctor of Ukraine N. Riepina | UAH 1,405 |
| Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the breast | UAH 1,760 |
| Ultrasound-guided drainage of a liver or kidney cyst through the skin | UAH 5,510 |
| Joint aspiration | UAH 1,365 |
| Cytology of an aspirate (breast) | UAH 685 |
| Fine-needle vacuum aspiration of fluid-filled lesions (ovarian cysts and others), medicines and supplies included | UAH 4,625 |
| Cytology of an aspirate (ovaries) | UAH 665 |
| IV anaesthesia up to 30 minutes (if needed) | UAH 1,975 |
Prices are taken from the clinic price list as of 01.10.2026 and may change. Please check the current cost with our call centre.
Why choose Oberig Clinic
- An interventional radiologist. Yurii Chyrkov has a PhD, is a top-category surgeon and an ultrasound doctor. For 21 years he worked in an interventional ultrasound unit, doing about 800 procedures a year.
- An Honoured Doctor of Ukraine. Nataliia Riepina has long experience in ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatment and co-holds a patent for a method of treating liver cysts.
- No hospital stay. Most ultrasound-guided aspirations are outpatient. You can go about your day afterwards.
- Everything in one place. The Breast Centre, gynaecology, urology, the lab and cytology all work in one clinic.
Address: 3 Zoolohichna St, buildings "G" and "V", Kyiv. Book online at https://my.oberig.ua/ua/appointment/ or call +38 044 521 30 03.
Ultrasound-guided cyst aspiration and drainage?
