Surgical

The area of concern is marked and excised under local anaesthesia. The lesion excised is then sent to the laboratory for testing. The hole that remains after the lesion has been removed is closed in layers with deep dissolving sutures and superficial skin sutures that require removal one to two weeks later.

The pathology results usually are available between one and two weeks.

In some instances, it may not be possible to reconstruct the hole made after surgery with a standard surgical closure due to the anatomical site or if the surrounding skin has limited laxity. In such circumstances the hole may be closed with a flap, which requires an understanding of the three dimensional geometric movement of the surrounding skin.

A graft is when skin is harvested from areas of similar colour and texture, which is then sutured into the hole made after surgery. The donor site is closed like a standard surgical excision. Once the graft is transplanted, it is secured into place with sutures and then it is covered with a special bolster dressing that is sutured into place. The graft relies on the blood supply and nutrients from the bed on which it is placed for survival. Therefore, a lot of care and rest is required to provide the best opportunity for the graft to take and survive. The bolster dressing is left on for one to two weeks until you see the nurse for removal of sutures.