SURGICAL
TREATMENT
Most cancerous lesions are removed with a single surgical procedure. This is done in a precise and sterile way whilst ensuring patient comfort. All our procedures are done under local anaesthetic and usually, the wound is sutured close.
We are proud to be Southern Cross Affiliated and a NIB first choice provider. We have strong relationships with most major insurers to make your visit to us stress free.
What to Expect
Most wounds are closed with a simple ellipse resulting in a straight fine white line (the scar). Sometimes a skin graft or more complex flap will be required to close a larger wound, if this is required we will discuss this in depth with you beforehand.
You will be given verbal and written information to take home to ensure you know what to do to care for your wound. You will also be given the doctors private mobile number should you need to contact them. After the procedure, you will be given follow up appointments for wound reviews and suture removal (if needed). Sutures are usually removed between 1 to 2 weeks after the operation.
Your results and any follow up required will be discussed with you as soon as the histology report is made available. Most skin cancers are removed with a single procedure but melanomas usually require a second procedure which is dictated by the details of the histology report.
Diagnosis
On occasions, a partial biopsy (punch, incisional or shave) will be undertaken to confirm the suspected diagnosis and/or the margins of the tumour prior to a formal full excision.
A shave biopsy is another technique that can also be used to aid in the diagnosis prior to a formal full excision. Shave excisions are also used to remove benign (non-cancerous) unsightly/problematic skin lesions such as skin tags and “age spots” (seborrhoeic keratoses).
This will always be discussed with you as part of the consultation process to ensure everyone is able to make an informed decision.
Healing
All procedures will cause some scarring but we pride ourselves on minimising this as much as possible. Whilst noone can guarantee the resulting scar, there are various techniques and post operative cares that can be taken to minimise scarring. This will be discussed prior to every consultation to create a tailored plan for each patient.