Encyclopedia

Prior to Procedure

Follow instructions given by your doctor. Generally, no special preparation is required.

During Procedure

Anesthesia

Anesthesia

Local

Description of the Procedure

The area will be cleaned, and the skin surrounding the lesion will be numbed by a local anesthetic. Techniques for skin lesion removal vary depending on the reason for removal and lesion location. Common techniques include:

• Removal with scalpel—use of a surgical knife to cut away the lesion
• Laser surgery—use of a high-energy beam to destroy skin tissue
• Electrosurgery—use of an electrical current to selectively destroy skin tissue
• Cryosurgery—use of a cold liquid or instrument to freeze and remove the lesion
• Curettage—scraping of the skin with a circular cutting loop instrument
• Mohs' micrographic surgery—used to examine suspected cancerous lesions. Small disks of tissue are successively removed and then viewed microscopically for signs of cancer .

After Procedure

You may need to wait for a short period of time after the procedure. However, in most cases, patients can leave and resume normal activities.

How Long Will It Take?

This depends on which procedure is used. Most are completed within 5-20 minutes.

Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia prevents pain during the procedure.

Possible Complications

• In very rare cases, allergic reaction caused by the anesthesia
• Ridged or spread scar replaces the lesion
• Bleeding below the skin (hematoma)
• Temporary or permanent nerve damage
• Recurrence of the lesion if it was a precancerous or cancerous growth
• Infection at the procedure site

Average Hospital Stay

None

Postoperative Care

Keep lesion area clean and dry.