Medical Treatments

Medical Problems

Skin Cancer Surgery Information Hampshire UK

Good for:

Basal cell carcinomas that form raised lumps or weeping ulcers
All squamous cell carcinomas and malignant melanomas and the pre-cancer known as lentigo maligna
Non-cancers: Dermatofibroma, cysts and large, deep acne scars, flat moles and larger, raised, hairy moles.

Poor for:

Flat basal cell carcinomas, Photodynamic therapy gives a better result.

Dr Fairris is recognised as one of the leading skin cancer surgeons in the UK and has a personal cure rate of 97- 98%, measured while treating more than 1,500 facial skin cancers.

What are the advantages of treating skin cancers with surgery that involves stitches?

Surgery that involves stitches aims to completely remove the skin cancer and is the gold standard treatment because:

It has a high cure rate
It leaves a good cosmetic result
Within a few days, the laboratory examination will reassure you that the cancer has been fully removed and so should not grow back

What are the alternatives to skin cancer surgery?

When treating flat basal cell carcinomas, photodynamic therapy becomes the top choice when an excellent cosmetic result is desired.
At sites where the skin circulation is poor and healing may be slow, again photodynamic therapy becomes the treatment of choice.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery, uses the laboratories to guide the extent of the surgery when the edges of the skin cancer cannot be seen. However, it is a more painful and prolonged procedure than routine surgery.

What is involved?

After the skin is numbed with an injection of local anaesthetic, the skin cancer is removed along with a 4mm cuff of normal looking skin.
The skin edges are then sewn together
A week later the stitches are removed
If there is not enough spare skin on either side of the wound to close the wound, a skin flap or skin graft will be used.

Is skin cancer surgery safe?

Yes, providing that you are in reasonable health.

Does it hurt?

Once the skin has been numbed with an injection of local anaesthetic, the operation is painless.

How will I look immediately after surgery?

The wound will be red and a little swollen. After a couple of days a bruise may develop.

Is there any important aftercare?

If you are treated at the Wessex Skin Clinic

You will be supplied with the necessary dressings
Shown how to use them
Given a post-treatment information sheet
Given an emergency contact number to use in the unlikely event that you have any problems.

What side-effects does the surgery produce?

Anticipated

Temporary swelling, bruising and a small amount of bleeding
A scar initially with some numbness around it
Sometimes, the ends of the wound are temporarily raised

Unanticipated

Occasionally; a wound infection
Occasionally; a raised scar
The skin graft or flap may die or may never properly match the surrounding skin.
Dr Fairris has a personal cure rate of 97- 98%, measured while treating more than 1,500 facial skin cancers. Laboratory studies suggest that this is the best that can be achieved