What to know before your procedure

Skin cancer surgery is generally quick, easy and low risk. If you’re scheduled for removal of a skin lesion, here’s what you need to know:

Before the procedure

Eat and drink normally. It is best not to be hungry or dehydrated prior to the procedure.
Wear comfortable, loose clothing.
Arrange for someone to drive you home if the procedure is near your eye or on your feet or hands.
Do not use moisturiser, sunscreen, or any other products on skin near the surgical site.
You may use hair clippers to shave hair from the site, but do not use a razor as this increases infection risk. Prior to the procedure a nurse will shave any hair from the site, so you do not need to do this yourself.
Take diazepam or a similar medication you have been prescribed if you think you will be very anxious.
Inform the doctor if you are on blood-thinning medication, including aspirin and fish oil.
Inform the doctor if you have a pacemaker.

Local anaesthetic will be injected at the site to make it numb. The anaesthetic is acidic, so feels a bit like an ant bite. After this you shouldn’t feel any sensation of pain at the site.
During the procedure you will feel other sensations such as cold, wet and pressure. These sensations are not affected by the anaesthetic.
The site will be cleaned with a surgical disinfectant and a sterile drape placed over the site.
The lesion will then be removed and the defect repaired.
A dressing will be applied to the surgical site.
The procedure can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the complexity and size.
Dr Leneham usually plays music during the procedure. If you have a particular preference, feel free to let him know.

You’ll receive detailed wound care instructions.
Do not allow sweat or water near the site for at least 3 days or as directed. This means no strenuous activity for that time.
The vast majority of people do not need to take any pain medication after the procedure, but if you are uncomfortable usually paracetamol is enough. Please contact the clinic if you are having trouble with pain. Sometimes surgery on the head can lead to headaches in some people.
Feel free to lie on the surgical site. Pressure is generally good for the healing of the wound.
Most of the time Dr Leneham uses absorbable sutures that do not need to be removed. If this is the case, you may not need a review appointment. If you have sutures that need to be removed, you will be booked in for that appointment at reception. There will usually be a review following complex surgery.
Bleeding and infection are the most common complications of skin cancer surgery. If you suspect this may be the case with you, please contact the clinic.
Medicare has strict rules about rebates. Item numbers generally depend on the diagnosis given by the reporting pathologist. This means in some cases you won’t be billed until after the results are back from the pathology lab so you can get the appropriate rebate.