Your Procedure Day
What happens when a skin lesion is sampled or removed under local anaesthetic at Waterfront.
Procedure Day
What happens when a skin lesion is sampled or removed under local anaesthetic at Waterfront.
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
- Arrive at the time in your letter
- Bring your medicines list and any allergies, and your anticoagulation book if you take warfarin
- Wear comfortable clothing that gives easy access to the area
What to Expect
- Local anaesthetic is injected into the skin. It stings for a few seconds, then the area goes numb, so you should not feel pain, though you may still feel pressure
- The lesion is then sampled or removed
- Most wounds are closed with stitches, often with a dissolving layer underneath. Some are dressed and some are left open, depending on the site
- Antibiotics, by mouth or as an ointment, are used where there is a reason to, and we will tell you if so
- Your surgeon tells you on the day whether the lesion is being sent to the laboratory
Frequently Asked Questions
What procedures are done this way?
A biopsy or excision (a punch, part or all of the lesion removed and closed with a few stitches); a wide local excision (a further margin taken from around an earlier scar); a skin graft; a skin flap; or leaving the wound open to heal on its own with regular dressings. Your consultant will have explained which applies to you.
Will it hurt?
The injection stings for a few seconds. After that you should not feel pain, though you may still feel pressure. Tell your surgeon if you do.
How long does the numbness last?
The anaesthetic wears off after two to three hours.
Next Steps
- Rest for the remainder of the day; extra pillows for a face wound, leg up for a leg wound
- Keep any dressing in place and dry for about 48 hours unless told otherwise
- Paracetamol if needed; avoid aspirin and ibuprofen in the first day or two unless you take them regularly for another reason
- If it bleeds, press firmly and steadily for a full 30 minutes without lifting to look
Need Help?
For the first days after your surgery or procedure, for advice only. Day surgery, closed overnight.
Continue to the next stage:
The First Week