Before Your Procedure
What to do in the days before a skin lesion is sampled or removed under local anaesthetic. Your surgeon's instructions for your wound always come first.
Before Your Procedure
What to do in the days before a skin lesion is sampled or removed under local anaesthetic. Your surgeon's instructions for your wound always come first.
Your full aftercare guide
Everything on this page, plus wound care, pain relief, bleeding first aid and the ring-us list, is in the skin surgery aftercare guide. You can also download it as a leaflet there.
Open the skin surgery aftercare guideChecklist
- Eat and drink as normal on the day
- Keep taking your usual medicines unless we have told you otherwise
- Tell us beforehand if you take a blood thinner (aspirin, clopidogrel, edoxaban, rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran or warfarin) and do not stop any of them yourself
- On warfarin: have your INR checked two days before, ideally below 3, and bring your anticoagulation book
- Tell us about diabetes, epilepsy, a bleeding disorder, a pacemaker or any implanted device, and any allergy, especially to antibiotics, dressings, latex or local anaesthetic
- Arrange for someone to come with you if the surgery is to your face, head, neck or hands
What to Expect
- No fasting and no pre-assessment appointment
- A short visit; you are awake throughout and go home the same day
- You may not be able to drive home after surgery to the face, head, neck or hands, and a dressing near the eye can block your vision
- Smoking slows healing, so stopping for a couple of weeks either side gives the wound the best chance
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to fast?
No. Eat and drink as normal and keep taking your usual medicines unless we have told you otherwise.
Should I stop my blood thinner?
No. Tell us beforehand that you take one and do not stop it yourself. On warfarin, have your INR checked two days before, ideally below 3, and bring your anticoagulation book.
Can I come on my own?
For surgery to the face, head, neck or hands, bring someone with you: you may not be able to drive home, and a dressing near the eye can block your vision. For other sites, most people come alone and drive once the numbness has worn off.
Next Steps
- Tell us about any blood thinners, health conditions or allergies before the day
- Arrange someone to come with you for face, head, neck or hand surgery
- Eat normally and take your usual medicines on the day
- Come with the area clean and free of make-up or jewellery
Continue to the next stage:
Procedure Day