Yup, it's real. That lady knew what she was doing too. Likely a Dr. or a nurse.
I do this at work somewhat regularly. I haven't done one that sized, but, you would be surprised how much stuff can come out. It's a mixture of dead tissue, oils, fluid and bacterial waste. Can start with a pore getting clogged up and the body encapsulates the pocket as it grows. And it smells... The worst are pilonidal cysts. They are in the top of the butt crack. The gunk that comes out of there is tainted brown and it smells like rotten.... Well I guess you can figure that out. Being a medic sucks sometimes.
I'd do it to anyone, it's no big deal. Pretty sure the current gf would do it if I asked her to if it was a spot I couldn't reach.
She did pull a cat hair out of the bottom of my foot a few weeks ago... I felt like I had a sliver so had her take a look, she found something dark sticking out a tiny bit so she started to pull on it with tweezers. I knew something was strange when she cursed... It was almost 2" long and had a root, and had been laying parallel below my skin.
I asked our dermatologist at work a couple days later, he's a bit odd but awesome. Apparently if a hair has a root, it can be implanted and will grow if it's nourished... Doesn't matter what species. Sort of creepy but interesting.