Excisions
Excisions are the most common type of skin surgery performed on skin cancers and other growths that may develop on the face and body. Patients may experience mild discomfort, bruising and swelling around the treated area. Most patients only require Tylenol for pain relief. There may be scarring after an excision once the area is healed. For patients concerned with the appearance of their skin after treatment, procedures are available to reduce the appearance of the scar, including injections and laser.
Although excisions are considered safe for most patients, there are certain risks involved with any type of surgical procedure. Some of these risks may include bleeding, infection, and wound dehiscence. These risks are uncommon and, if they do occur, are usually mild and temporary. Occasionally, an electrodessication and curettage (scrape and burn) procedure is used to treat the skin cancer if it is very superficial or in certain locations on the body.