Post-operative Instructions for Excision Surgery | Dermatologist In Toledo, OH | Anders Dermatology (2024)

FAQs

What are the restrictions after excision? ›

Avoid stretching the area or any heavy lifting/exercise until the wound has been checked by a doctor or nurse and the stitches removed (up to two weeks later). If the wound is on your face or head, avoid lowering your head, which may increase blood pressure abd bleeding.

Keep the wound bandaged and dry for the first day. After the first 24 to 48 hours, wash around the wound with clean water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the wound with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage.

Caring for surgical site: Keep pressure bandage on for at least 24hrs – do not get wet.

How quickly your wound heals depends on its size. Most wounds take 1 to 3 weeks to heal. If a large area of skin was removed, you may have a skin graft. In that case, healing may take longer.

It is important to remember that recovery looks different for each person. Most patients recover from the surgical pain within the first couple of days to weeks after surgery; however, it takes six to twelve weeks for tissues to fully heal.

A surgical excision, also known as shave excision of a skin lesion, is a skin cancer treatment that surgically removes malignant moles, lesions and tumors from the skin along with a healthy margin around the tumor. Surgical excisions can be performed to treat basal and squamous cell carcinomas as well as melanomas.

When the entire tumor is removed, the procedure is called an excisional biopsy. If only a portion of the tumor is removed, the procedure is referred to as an incisional biopsy. When possible, excisional biopsy is the preferred method when melanoma is suspected.

You may feel slight pulling and pressure as your dermatologist removes the lesion, but you shouldn't feel significant pain. Most patients tolerate the discomfort well.

Procedures are performed using a local anaesthetic, which makes the area around the skin lesion numb for several hours. There is no sedation, so in most cases, it's safe to drive home after the procedure.

What are the stages of excision healing? ›

You can take pain medicine, such as acetaminophen, as directed for pain at the wound site. Ask your provider about other pain medicines (such as aspirin or ibuprofen) to make sure they will not cause bleeding. Follow-up with your provider to make sure the wound is healing properly.

Biopsy and Excision Minor Surgery

Most biopsies don't require stitches and will be covered by a dressing. Excisions: The complete removal of a suspicious skin cancer or lesion. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic.

This is because your wound should not be soaked in water until it's healed. It could cause the skin to soften and reopen the wound. Guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) say you can have a shower 48 hours after surgery.

Continue applying the petroleum jelly until the wound has fully healed. Open wounds heal more slowly. A large wound can take 4 weeks or more to heal. A dressing (e.g. a plaster or gauze & tape) can be applied to protect the wound and keep it clean.

Small, superficial wounds may only require a few days of rest whereas larger or deeper excisions may warrant one to two weeks of minimal activity. As the wound starts to heal and swelling and inflammation subside, light physical activity can gradually be introduced.

The main disadvantage of the excision and repair of skin cancers is the scarring that may occur after the procedure, especially for larger incisions. This procedure also calls for the removal of healthy skin around the tumor, which at times, makes it difficult to put the edges of the resulting wound back together.