Skin Cancer Surgery

Mt Gravatt Medical Centre & Skin Cancer Clinic

Skin Cancer Surgery

Surgery is the most common and effective treatment for skin cancer.

Small skin growths can often be removed (excised) under local anaesthetic or by a technique known as curettage and electrocautery.

Larger growth are more likely to be cut out while you are under a general anaesthetic. The skin is also replaced with a skin graft or skin flap, if needed.

Most operations will be done under local anaesthetic and you will go home the same day.
-The wound will be covered by a dressing.
-The staff at the clinic will explain how to take care of the area and the dressing.
-And if necessary, staff can arrange for a district nurse to change your dressings at home or they may advise you to return to the clinic for help with dressing the wound.

Please note that all patients are required to sign a consent form before a surgical procedure is performed.

Skin Grafts and Skin Flaps

Skin Cancer Surgery Medical Centre

If the skin growth is large or spreading, a larger area of skin may need to be removed and you may need a skin graft or a skin flap to cover the wound.

Skin grafts and flaps are layers of skin taken from another part of the body and placed over the area where the skin cancer has been removed.

Skin Graft

The surgeon will take a layer of skin from another part of the body (the donor site). The inner thigh is a common place to take the skin from. It’s then put over the area where the cancer has been removed.

A skin graft for the face will usually be taken from behind the ear or the neck area in order to get a good skin colour match.

Skin Flap

A skin flap is a slightly thicker layer of skin which is taken from an area very close to the wound where the cancer has been removed.
The flap is cut away but left partly connected so it still has a blood supply. It’s moved over the wound and stitched in place.
You may also have some stitches around the donor site.

Please note that all patients are required to sign a consent form before a surgical procedure is performed.