What to Expect
Surgical Procedures for Skin Cancers
Selecting the right procedure to treat skin cancer is an important discussion between a patient and their provider. Much of the decision is based on the type of skin cancer, location and the size. The options recommended by your provider take into consideration these factors in addition to what a patient desires and is able to care for.
After discussing with your provider, some patients elect to have skin cancer treated with office based surgical procedures. Here is additional information on each option that is commonly reviewed and offered to patients.
Electrodessication/Curettage: (ED/C)
This is a brief procedure conducted in the office using local numbing medication. This procedure typically takes around 15-20 mins. You can drive home.
This is a procedure that removes the remainder of the skin cancer using a scraping technique (curettage) and does NOT send any of the edges out for analysis. This is best suited for early, thin skin cancers.
Healing time: depends on location. Typically 2 weeks for the face, 4-6 weeks for the lower legs.
Surgery (Excision)
Our office provides surgical procedures, or excisions, to remove skin cancers. These are typically 1 hour appointments and use local numbing medications. You can drive home.
Surgical removal of skin cancers is often recommended for larger, more invasive types of cancers that do not need Mohs procedure.
Removal of the skin cancers are sent for evaluation of margins of the sample removed. Sutures are often placed beneath the skin and above the skin and specific instructions on how to manage these will be provided by the office.
It is important to avoid strenuous activities, or exercise that impacts the location treated for several weeks.