From £1250 (excluding histology)
Treatment of Skin Cancer
Up to 60 Minutes
Local Anaesthetic
Usual Activities by 1 Week
Surgical excision is a common treatment option for skin cancer.
It involves the surgical removal of the cancerous growth along with a margin of healthy skin surrounding it. The goal is to completely remove the cancerous cells while minimizing the risk of recurrence. Surgical excision is an effective treatment for skin cancer and has a high success rate.
Before the surgery, you will have a pre-operative consultation with one of our plastic surgeons. Your consultant will take your medical history and examine the skin cancer to determine whether surgical excision is the best course of action in your case, if not alternative procedures such as MOHS surgery may be discussed.
If surgical excision is the preferred treatment, you will be advised of the benefits, risks and potential outcomes of the surgery. You may be advised to stop taking certain medications or supplements in advance of surgery, that can increase bleeding during the procedure.
If your surgeon anticipates that you may require any further treatment following the surgical excision, such as plastic surgery reconstruction after skin cancer, this can be discussed at this stage.
The procedure will be undertaken in one of our two state-of-the-art operating theatres at The Day Clinic. First of all, the area will be numbed using a local anaesthetic to ensure the procedure is as pain-free as possible.
The surgeon then carefully removes the tumour and a small amount of normal-looking skin around it. This additional healthy tissue, known as the margin, helps to ensure that all cancer cells have been removed.
The excised tissue is sent to a laboratory for examination under a microscope. This process, known as ‘pathological examination’ or ‘histology’, helps determine the type and stage of the skin cancer. It also provides information about whether the excision was successful in removing all the cancer cells.
The size and location of the skin cancer determines the extent of the excision. In some cases, a simple excision may be sufficient, where the tumour is removed along with a margin of healthy skin. In other cases, a more complex excision technique, such as MOHS surgery, may be used. MOHS surgery involves the removal of thin layers of tissue, which are examined immediately, allowing the surgeon to progressively remove only the cancerous cells while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
After the surgical excision, the wound is typically closed using sutures or stitches. In some cases, a skin graft or other plastic surgery reconstruction may be necessary to restore the appearance and function of the area.
After your procedure, you will be given personalised aftercare guidance from your consultant. This will vary depending upon the procedure you’ve had. It is very important that you follow the aftercare advice to achieve the optimum results.
If a dressing has been applied after the procedure you will be given instructions on how to look after the area and change the dressing.
If you’ve had a skin lesion removed by a surgical procedure, you may have stitches. Your consultant will advise you if your stitches are absorbable or not. If not, they will usually require removal about one week after your treatment. It’s important to keep the wound clean and dry and to follow any specific instructions you’ve been given regarding wound care.
You may wish to manage any pain or discomfort you feel with painkillers such as paracetamol. If your pain is not manageable or you have any concerns, we can advise you how best to proceed.
Your consultant may want you to attend a follow-up appointment to monitor the healing process and see how your recovery is going or to discuss the results from your treatment.
If you have had skin surgery this will result in a scar, but there are steps you can take to minimise its visibility. Massaging the area regularly for a few minutes at a time can help the scar tissue to soften, producing a nicely faded scar. Your consultant will advise you when to start this and how to go about it. We also advise using a high SPF sunscreen on the area for around 12 months after your procedure.
Like any surgical procedure, surgical excision carries some risks and potential complications, such as infection, bleeding, scarring, or changes in sensation. If surgical excision is the appropriate treatment for you, the procedure and possible risks and side effects will be thoroughly discussed with you by our experts at The Day Clinic.
Infection
Any surgical procedure carries a risk of infection. Warning signs may include increased pain, redness, swelling, warmth or discharge from the wound. Most infections will present themselves around 9 days after a procedure and the treatment is usually a one week course of oral antibiotics. Should you have any concerns about the presence of infection we will be available to see and advise you accordingly.
Bleeding
Bleeding may occur during or after the removal procedure. In rare cases, excessive bleeding may require medical attention.
Scarring
Following any form of surgery there will be a scar. The extent of scarring can vary, and is dependent on your particular case and how you heal. We will do all we can to minimise the appearance of any unavoidable scarring.
Nerve Damage
In rare cases, if the lesion is particularly large or deep, surgical removal procedures may damage nearby nerves. This could lead to temporary or permanent numbness or altered sensation in the area.
Recurrence
With certain types of skin lesion there is a small risk of it coming back, also known as recurrence. If your surgery involved removal of a skin cancer we will advise an annual skin check with a skin expert to look for early signs of recurrence or other skin cancers.
In the vast majority of cases it does. When we remove skin cancer using surgical excision, we remove the cancerous growth along with a margin of healthy tissue around it. This minimises the risk of leaving any cancerous cells behind. The excised tissue is sent for pathological examination after the procedure to confirm that the cancerous tissue has been removed completely. In some cases, additional treatments may be recommended after excision to address any remaining cancer cells or reduce the risk of recurrence. Your consultant will discuss this with you if it is considered necessary.
The recovery time will vary depending on the size and location of the excision as well as your individual healing. Generally, we say it may take a week or two for the surgical site to heal completely. It’s important to follow our wound care guidance and attend any follow-up appointments to ensure optimal results.
As we carry out the procedure under local anaesthetic, you won’t feel any pain during the procedure itself. However, some people report a sensation of pressure or movement around the area during the procedure. After the procedure there may be some mild discomfort or soreness at the treatment site which can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain medication such as Paracetamol.
As with all skin surgery, there will typically be a scar at the treatment site. The visibility of the scar will depend on factors such as the size and location of the cancer as well as your individual skin type. We take all possible steps to minimise scarring and offer guidance on aftercare and scar management to help minimise the visibility of the scar. If a significant amount of skin is excised during the procedure, you may be suitable for plastic surgery reconstruction after skin cancer. This will be undertaken at The Day Clinic by an experienced plastic surgeon who specialises in reconstructive procedures
Surgical excision of skin cancer is performed by an experienced consultant dermatologist or a consultant plastic surgeon. This will depend upon the size and location of the skin cancer. All consultants who carry out these procedures at The Day Clinic do so regularly in both the NHS and at The Day Clinic.
