Minor Surgery

Some lesions on the skin can cause symptoms like itching or bleeding. They may catch on clothes or prevent hair brushing if located on the scalp. They may also be a cause of embarrassment resulting to low esteem, if they are in a prominent visible area on the body or face.

If any lump or lesion (mole, wart, skin tag) is changing in colour, size or shape, or if there is some concern over the exact diagnosis, your doctor may recommend removing the lesion to confirm the diagnosis by sending it to a pathology lab for further investigation. This can be done by removing the entire lesion of conducting an excision biopsy and you can discuss this further at your consultation.

The main benefit of having this done is that a diagnosis can be confirmed and that your symptoms are treated. There may also be a benefit in reducing the likelihood of future complications. For example, epidermal (sebaceous) cysts can become infected from time to time.

There are several non-surgical methods that can be offered for certain types of lesions, the main ones are as follows:

Shave Biopsy – Used for skin tags and seborrhoeic keratoses, partial removal is a technique to ‘shave off’ lesions that stick out from your skin.

Your practitioner cuts across the base of the lesion, so it’s level with your surrounding skin. You may also need “cautery”, where heat is applied local to seal your skin and stop it from bleeding.

Electrocautery – Your practitioner will use a device with a heated tip heated which is applied to the base of the lesion to remove it. Electrocautery is particularly effective in  removing skin tags.

Creams and Gels – Your practitioner may prescribe a skin lesion removal cream or gel containing medicines such as imiquimod, salicylic acid, 5-fluorouracil or diclofenac to get rid of a wart or actinic keratosis. You usually need to apply the cream or gel daily for several weeks.

Cryotherapy – This involves freezing off lesions with liquid nitrogen (-195.8°C), which can be used for actinic and seborrhoeic keratoses, warts and skin tags. Your practitioner applies liquid nitrogen to the area for around 10 seconds, normally with a cotton wool, A blister forms after the treatment, which dries up to form a scab, which falls off one to two weeks later (sometimes longer).

Curettage – This method can be used for warts, pyogenic granuloma, actinic keratoses and seborrhoeic keratoses. Your practitioner uses a surgical instrument called a “curette” which is a small spoon with sharpened edges, to gently scoop away the lesion. This may be combined with electrocautery (heat treatment).

All surgical skin lesion removal procedures, including biopsy and curettage, leave you with a scar. How big and how noticeable this is depends on the type of procedure you’ve had and how much skin is removed. Ask your doctor what scarring to expect after your treatment. Your scar is likely to be red and raised at first, but most get smaller and fade significantly over several months. is always an incisional scar after any surgery. This should fade with time but consideration should be made depending on the location of lesion/scar.

There is a small risk of infection, where the wound may become red and painful, and you may have a temperature. If this happens you should contact us either at the surgery or on the card you have been provided with as you may require antibiotics. If you smoke, have diabetes or you are obese there is an increased risk of infection.