This is generally performed under a local anaesthesia – you will be awake throughout the procedure. The skin cancer is always sent for pathological analysis to ensure it is completely excised.
Reconstruction following surgery is often side-to-side, or may involve flaps or grafts - this will be determined on the day of the surgery. Scars can take up to 12 months to fully mature and look their best.
Direct Closure
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Excising the tumour Excising the tumour
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Closing the defect side-to-side Closing the defect side-to-side
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Closing the defect side-to-side Closing the defect side-to-side
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The final tumour free defect directly closed The final tumour free defect directly closed
Flap 1 - Showing a myocutaneous island pedicle flap
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Marking out of the tumour Marking out of the tumour
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Drawing of the flap Drawing of the flap
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Undermining of the flap Undermining of the flap
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The final closed defect The final closed defect
Flap 2 - Showing a rhombic transposition flap
Secondary surgical procedures, lasers or injections may be required to revise or refine the scars following initial healing.
Skin cancers commonly excised include Bowen’s disease, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, lentigo maligna and melanoma. Rarer skin cancers are also excised.