Minor skin surgery - advice before

This information is for anyone coming to have minor surgery with the dermatology and plastic team.

Read all of this information and bring a signed copy with you to your appointment.

About the procedure 

The aim of this procedure is to remove a small portion of skin. This is done to treat a skin problem or to send a sample for testing.

This will be done in the outpatients’ department during a 30-minute appointment. 

Before your appointment

Tell us before

• Tell us beforehand if you are taking an anticoagulant (blood thinning) medicine such as aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel or dipyridamole.
  You may need to stop these medicines for a few days beforehand. But do not do this without discussing it with us first. Our contact details are given at the bottom.
• Tell us beforehand if you if you have a pacemaker.

At your appointment

You can drive to your appointment and home afterwards. However, parking at the hospital is difficult and you will have to pay. So, we recommend you find an alternative way to travel here.

We recommend you bring someone with you to your appointment. However, do not bring children because we cannot offer childcare.

• Bring to your appointment a list of all your medications.
• Tell us of any allergies to drugs or dressings.
• You will be given a local anaesthetic. This means the area of skin will be numb for a short while.

Afterwards

After the procedure you will be given a leaflet with advice about what to do.

You will be able to go home and return to your usual activities. For 4 weeks, avoid vigorous exercise and do not put strain on the wound area. This will allow the wound to heal and reduce the risk of the wound opening.

Make an appointment with the practice nurse at your GP surgery for about 7 days afterwards. They will check the wound.

Stitches

Stitches may be dissolvable or non-dissolvable. 

• Dissolvable stitches are broken down naturally by the body. They will disappear over time.
• Non-dissolvable stitches need to be removed, usually 7 to 14 days  afterwards. We will tell you what type of stitches we used.

Results

All skin samples are sent for testing. We will send you and your GP a letter with the results. 

When necessary, we will organise another hospital appointment for you. 

You can contact us if you have not received a letter or any contact from us 8 weeks after the appointment.

Side effects

Any side effects of minor skin surgery are usually not severe. 

The most common side effects are:

• Pain
  The injection of local anaesthetic may feel like a bee sting for 10 to 15 seconds, before it numbs the area. 
  Pain after the procedure is usually minimal. You can take a simple painkiller, such as paracetamol, if necessary.
• Bleeding
  It is quite normal for you to see a few spots of blood on the dressing, and to have a bruise.
  It is rare for bleeding to continue after the procedure. If it does, you can put pressure on the wound and raise the limb, if appropriate. We will give you clear instructions about this.
• Infection
  An infection is uncommon.  We will explain the signs of an infection and what to do if you get them. Occasionally, antibiotics are prescribed to prevent infections.
• Scar
  The procedure will leave a scar. This should fade gradually over several months. Occasionally, the scar does not fade (this is called a keloid or hypertrophic scar). We are unable to predict when this might occur.

Very occasionally, other problems can occur:

• The stitches can break before the wound is fully healed. This can cause the wound to reopen. This is why you should avoid vigorous exercise and putting strain on the area for 4 weeks.
• The problem area of skin may not be completely removed. Further surgery may be needed.
• The skin problem may come back. Further treatment may be needed.