At A Glance

Price:

£750 (Excluding Histology)

Expected Results:

Diagnostic And/Or Treatment of Skin Condition

Length of Surgery:

Up To 30 Minutes

Anaesthesia:

Local Anaesthetic

Recovery:

Usual Activities by 1 Week

What is Punch Biopsy

A punch biopsy procedure is a surgical technique which can be used in the treatment of specific surgical conditions or to obtain diagnostic information.

It is typically performed when a dermatologist or plastic surgeon needs to examine a specific area of the skin more closely to determine the cause of a skin condition or to make a definitive diagnosis.

Punch biopsy is a valuable tool in dermatology as it allows for a more accurate diagnosis and helps guide appropriate treatment plans. It is commonly used for conditions such as suspicious moles, skin infections, rashes, and autoimmune disorders. The results of a punch biopsy can provide important information for the dermatologist to develop an effective treatment plan for the patient.

 

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The Consultation

Consultation

During a dermatology consultation one of the consultant skin specialists at The Day Clinic will assess your skin and find out more from you with regards to the area of concern. If they feel that it would be helpful to gain more diagnostic information from a punch biopsy they will discuss that with you and make an appropriate plan. Skin that is removed using the punch biopsy procedure is then sent to the laboratory where it is analysed in order to help provide a diagnosis which is then used to guide any further treatment

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The Procedure

Procedure

During a punch biopsy, the dermatologist or plastic surgeon uses a special tool called a punch biopsy. This instrument consists of a circular blade that is used to remove a small cylindrical piece of skin tissue. The size of the punch biopsy instrument can vary depending on the specific area being biopsied and the purpose of the biopsy.

The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia to minimize any discomfort. The dermatologist first cleans and numbs the area to be biopsied. Then, they use the punch biopsy instrument to remove the small piece of skin tissue. The wound is typically closed with stitches or left to heal on its own, depending on the size and location of the biopsy site.

Once the biopsy sample is obtained, it is sent to a laboratory for further examination and analysis. A pathologist will examine the tissue under a microscope to identify any abnormalities, such as infections, inflammatory conditions, or skin cancers.

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Aftercare & Results

Aftercare

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

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What our clients think

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Dr Misha Zee Malik 3 months ago
Lovely experience . Dr abood was very kind and reassured me well before the procedure
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Neil Francis 3 months ago
The Day Clinic staff and Dr Abood were exceptional. Greeted with a smile, offered a drink while I waited for my appointment, on time and procedures explained with detail, super friendly. I went ahead on the day, having two moles removed. Aftercare explained and off I went. I wish I had it done sooner. Highly recommend

Thanks Dr Abood!

Plenty of parking and easy to find.
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Richard Davey 4 months ago
Very happy with the professionalism of the The Day Clinic staff and Dr Abood , everything was explained to me from start to finish of the procedure of the removal of my lipoma , which I’m very happy with.
The Day Clinic is very easy to find and plenty of parking available.
I would recommend Dr Abood to anyone wanting a procedure.
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Sally Marriott 4 months ago
I thoroughly recommend Dr Abood and his team. The Day Clinic is bright, super clean & modern. I felt informed, relaxed & looked after during my procedures
where I had a Lipoma and a small cyst removed from my face. I shall be returning next week to have my stitches removed.
The Day Clinic is also very accessible being on the outskirts of Cambridge.
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Kay Morland 4 months ago
Dr Abood and his team were recommended to me for his seamless minimal scaring small operations. I had a small op to remove a lump in a visible area. The operation was very seamless, quick and low fuss. Free parking, easy to find, and the team were extremely friendly and attentive. They made a real effort to squeeze me in in a short time frame which I really appreciated, and sent me away with an after care plan. The actual wound was extremely tidy and I felt the operation was extremely thorough and professional. I had an appointment to view and operate on the same day but I also know that if I had wanted to postpone the operation to have time to process what he had told me, they would have done so, and made every effort to make me comfortable moving forward.
Although I'm still to see the final healed result I would thoroughly recommend the day Clinic for small ops like mine.
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John Dowdell 4 months ago
No problems, would recommend. Operation was quick and painless. Recovery is not too sore.
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simon bowers 4 months ago
So terrific to be seen and treated quickly. I had 100% confidence in Dr Abood, both in terms of his professionalism and his communications to me as a patient.
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sharon wollaston 4 months ago
lovely clean professional treatment, care and information easy to understand and looked after very well
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Cheeze Muphinnz 5 months ago
Very pleased with my experience at The Day Clinic. The staff are all exceptionally kind and helpful, and the surgery went smoothly.
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Potential Risks

While surgical excision is generally considered a safe procedure, there are some potential risks and complications you should be aware of. These may include:

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.

Related FAQs

Why would I need a punch biopsy?

A punch biopsy is usually performed to obtain a sample of tissue for diagnostic purposes. This is to determine the cause of certain skin conditions, such as suspected skin cancer, autoimmune diseases, or inflammatory conditions. Punch biopsy can also be used as a surgical technique to remove small lesions or scars.

Is a punch biopsy painful?

We use a local anaesthetic to ensure the procedure itself is painless. Following the biopsy and once the effects of the anaesthetic have worn off you may feel some mild discomfort which is usually well controlled with simple pain relief.

How long does it take to get the results from a punch biopsy?

Depending upon the type of skin specimen sent to the lab, it can take up to six weeks to get a result.

Will there be a scar after a punch biopsy?

Punch biopsies usually leave a very small scar at the biopsy site. The size and visibility of the scar depends on various factors such as the location of the site and your individual healing. Following proper wound care guidance, the scar usually fades and becomes less noticeable over time.

How long does a punch biopsy take?

The procedure is usually very quick and is ususally completed within 10 minutes or so.

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