Excisional Biopsy

In general skin surgery is a safe procedure and recovery is usually quick within 1-2 weeks, depending on your procedure.  However, every surgical procedure will carry some risks:

• Bleeding: this will be controlled at the time of the procedure, but as the anaesthetic wears off, rarely bleeding can occur.  If this occurs, we recommend applying firm pressure with a towel or cloth for at least 15 minutes.  If the bleeding does not stop, then you will need to seek medical attention. If within working hours we would be keen to see you at OneWelbeck to examine the wound.
• Infection: if your wound becomes increasingly red and painful then you may have developed an infection. Please inform your surgeon of this and take pictures of your wound if you are able to. Antibiotics will usually be prescribed to treat the infection.  If you are diabetic or immunosuppressed then you have a higher risk of infection, please discuss this with your surgeon.
• Scarring: all surgical procedures will leave a scar. The scar will usually be hidden in the skin creases. Scars heal best when there is no tension on the wound, therefore internal dissolvable sutures (stitches) maybe used to reduce tension across the wound, which will dissolve over time. Scars that become lumpy or inflamed 1-2 weeks after surgery may need treatment.
• Swelling and bruising: even small procedures may result in significant swelling and bruising, especially around the eye. This will settle over time but if you are concerned please do contact your surgeon for advice.
• Pain: most procedures cause very little pain both during the operation and after. We need to know if your pain is increasing after the procedure, please contact your surgeon. We recommend using paracetamol for pain relief. Please avoid aspirin as this can cause bleeding.

Rest:  you must allow yourself enough rest following your procedure. This will allow the wound to heal better. This will vary depending on the complexity of your procedure, please discuss this with your surgeon.

Work: please check with us about taking time off work and whether you would be able to drive directly after your procedure.  In general, most skin surgery will allow you to return to non-physical work immediately or in the next few days, but it depends on your job and most importantly how you feel after the procedure.

Sports and exercise: in most cases, you should not swim, play sports (incl. golf), or exercise (including gardening) whilst the stitches are in place for at least 2 weeks after the procedure – to optimise the appearance of the scar. Depending on the size and site of the surgery you may be asked to refrain from activities that might stretch the scar for a longer period of time (3-4 weeks) after the stitches have been removed. Please ask your surgeon if you are not sure.

Events: please avoid social or stressful events for 1-2 weeks after your procedure to avoid complications to your wound and delayed healing.

Post-procedure FAQs

When will my sutures be removed?

This depends on the type of sutures that you have had. In general, sutures are removed at 5-14 days depending on the site and type of suture used. Please discuss this with your surgeon. We would be keen for you to have these removed at OneWelbeck so that we can also review the wound and ensure it is healing well.

When can I fly?

With local anaesthetic there are no restrictions to flying, but we would recommend waiting at least 1 week before flying in case of unforeseen issues. Although this advice will be different depending on your procedure and individual patient factors, please discuss this with your surgeon and travel insurance company before your procedure.

Can I eat or drink ?

With local anaesthetic procedures we encourage you to eat light meals before and after your procedure. Please keep yourself well hydrated and avoid any alcohol a day before and at least 2 days after your procedure as this will increase your bleeding tendency and delay healing.

Can I shower or bath?

We recommend having a wash prior to you attending for your procedure. Depending on where on your body the procedure is performed, we will sometimes ask you to avoid getting that area wet for 5-7 days. We will normally apply showerproof (but not waterproof) dressings to avoid the wound getting wet, when you are allowed to have a quick shower. In general, we do not recommend having baths when you have surgical wounds. Please discuss this with your surgeon.

I am having surgery on my face, do I have to take special precautions?

For procedures on the head we advise to avoid bending down after the procedure. This causes congestion and can lead to more swelling of your wound. On the day try to wear slip on shoes to avoid undoing shoelaces and bending down. We recommend avoiding heavy lifting and straining for at least a week after your procedure. Please try to get a week’s worth of shopping in order to avoid carrying heavy shopping bags.

My procedure is on my arm or leg, should I take any special precautions?

On the limbs – especially extremities such as the foot or hand, swelling following the procedure can develop. Therefore we would recommend elevation of the affected limb following the procedure when at home. In certain cases, such as with your hand we may put a sling on to keep your hand elevated. This may mean that you will need to reduce your responsibilities and exercises following your procedure, although your surgeon will warn you about these issues prior to your procedure.

Your procedure will be undertaken by an expert in their field, if you have not had skin surgery before, below is a summary of the steps that you will experience on the day.

Consent for surgery: you will be asked to sign a consent form unless you are under 16 years old when a parent or guardian must sign. This form indicates that you are aware of the procedure to be carried out. You will be given a copy of your signed consent and must ask any questions you have during the consent process.

Undressing: you will be asked to remove enough clothing so that we can clearly see the part of your body that needs a procedure. It would be helpful to wear loose casual clothing on the day.

Marking: the area of skin to be removed will often be marked with ink. This is not permanent.

Operating couch: apart from exceptional circumstances such as breathlessness or immobility, you will be treated whilst lying down on an operating couch. This makes the operation easier and optimises the use of the operating light.

Local anaesthetic: Most minor operations need a local anaesthetic to numb the area, which will be injected just under the area to be treated. It causes a mild sting lasting 5-10 seconds. The operation will then be pain free. Please let us know if you feel any discomfort during the procedure, and we will top-up the anaesthetic. Your procedure should be painless once the anaesthetic has taken effect. It is common to feel pulling or pressure at the operating site during the procedure.

Stitches (sutures): at the end of your procedure the skin maybe closed with stitches that can be removed 1-2 weeks later, depending on the site. Sometimes dissolvable stitches are used and these will dissolve slowly over 2-4 weeks.

Strapping or bandaging: all stitched wounds will be well strapped up with special dressings. You will be advised at the end of the surgery on the necessary wound care. This information will be explained to you verbally and in writing.

Duration: depending on the complexity of the surgery and the site, surgery can take from 15 minutes to one hour. As much as possible, we will endeavour to run to time. In the unavoidable circumstances where there is delay, you will be informed.