Surgical excision is a common medical procedure that involves removing tissue from the body. It is often used to remove cancerous or pre-cancerous cells and other types of abnormal tissue. A surgeon typically performs surgical excision in a hospital or outpatient setting.
Overview
Your doctor may recommend surgical excision if a skin lesion needs removal. This procedure involves cutting out the lesion and some surrounding tissue, which is then sent to a lab for testing.
Surgical excisions often remove skin cancers, such as:
- Melanoma
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
They can also be used to remove other types of skin growths, such as:
- Moles
- Cysts
- Lipomas
You will be given a local anesthetic to numb the area during the procedure. Your doctor will then make a small incision around the lesion and remove it with some surrounding tissue. The incision will be closed with stitches, and a bandage will be placed over the area. After the procedure, you may experience pain and discomfort, which can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication. You should avoid strenuous activity for a few days and keep the area clean and dry.