What to expect from surgical excision for basal cell carcinoma

The surgeon marks the lesion and margin, cleans the skin, and numbs the area. The visible basal cell carcinoma is removed with surrounding skin chosen for its location, size, and clinical features. The wound may be closed directly with stitches or require another repair. The specimen is examined to see whether carcinoma reaches the edges. If tumour cells remain at an edge, your clinician may discuss additional treatment; the next step depends on the result and the site. Excision treats the removed lesion, so ongoing skin checks remain useful because new lesions can develop elsewhere.

Keep the dressing and wound care routine exactly as instructed, and use gentle cleaning rather than rubbing. Avoid lifting, bending, or exercise that strains the area until advised, particularly when the wound is on the face, scalp, or near a joint. Do not smoke around the procedure if your clinician advises avoiding it, and tell the team about medicines that affect bleeding. Attend stitch removal and pathology follow-up. After healing, use shade, clothing, and sunscreen as advised, and examine your skin for a sore, crust, or spot that does not settle.

Call the clinic if bleeding continues despite firm pressure, the wound opens, or pain, warmth, redness, swelling, discharge, or fever is increasing. Seek urgent care for uncontrolled bleeding, severe facial swelling, or difficulty breathing. Ask for review of a new persistent sore, recurrent crusting, or a firm change along the scar rather than assuming it is normal healing.

Ask what margin is planned, how the wound will be repaired, whether activity restrictions apply to your site, and when the pathology result will be available. Clarify what happens if the edges are not clear, how the scar will be monitored, and how often you should receive a full skin examination.