Skin cancer facial skin removal treatment

Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your treatment and all appropriate follow-up appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant's outpatient appointment consultation fee are charged separately.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you.

Skin cancer facial skin removal treatment is used to treat skin cancers that occur on the face. You may need to have the treatment if you have been diagnosed with a type of skin cancer on your face.

The main types of facial skin cancers include:

• Basal cell carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma

Why is this first consultation so important?

At Circle Health Group, your first appointment is important as it's where you meet your consultant, the doctor responsible for your care.

Your consultant will spend time getting to know you, discuss your diagnosis and expectations for treatment and encourage you to ask any questions you may have.

It is important to us that you are as well-informed and comfortable as possible before, during, and after your skin cancer facial removal treatment, so please discuss any questions or concerns with your consultant during your appointment.

At the end of your appointment, your consultant will discuss possible treatment options with you and decide on the best option for you based on your diagnosis, medical history and general health. Your consultant will explain everything you need to know about the procedure, including how to prepare, what happens during the surgery, and what to expect afterwards.

Your consultant will tell you everything you need to do to prepare for your skin cancer facial skin removal treatment. Instructions on how to prepare for your surgery will also be in your appointment letter.

If there's anything you're not sure about, or if you have any questions about how to prepare for your surgery, speak to your consultant or call the hospital for advice. Being well-prepared for your surgery will help to ease any anxiety you may have as well as allow your surgery and recovery to go more smoothly.

Before your surgery, tell your consultant about any medical conditions or allergies you have and any medication, including over-the-counter medicines or supplements you are taking.

Your consultant may tell you to stop taking some medications like blood thinners before your operation. This is to reduce the risk of bleeding during and after your surgery.

You may need to have some tests including a blood test, ECG and chest X-ray a week or two before your procedure to check your fitness for surgery.

The day of your surgery

• Take a shower on the morning of your surgery. You can use regular shampoo and face wash but do not apply perfume, make-up, lotions, creams, or gels to your skin before your surgery.
• Eat a normal breakfast (unless you are having a general anaesthetic — your consultant will advise you on this)
• Wear loose comfortable clothing
• Leave any jewellery at home

What lifestyle changes can I make before my surgery?

Being in optimal health before your surgery can reduce the risk of complications and speed up your recovery.

To make sure you are as healthy as possible before your surgery:

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains
• If you smoke, try to stop at least eight weeks before your surgery
• Avoid alcohol for a few days before and after your surgery. Alcohol thins the blood and can increase the risk of bleeding
• Take regular exercise

There are several types of skin cancer facial removal surgery.

Excisional biopsy

Most small skin cancer lesions can be removed during a minor operation called an excision. If the cancer is large or has spread, your consultant may need to remove a larger area of skin. This is called a wide local excision and is performed under general anaesthetic. In this type of surgery, a skin graft or skin flap may be used to cover the excised area with healthy skin from another part of your body.

During an excisional biopsy

• After administering a local anaesthetic to the area and checking it has taken effect, your consultant will clean the area with an antiseptic solution. They will remove (excise) the cancerous lesion and a margin of the surrounding skin using a scalpel (sharp surgical knife).
• Tissue from the cancerous lesion and margin is sent to the laboratory to be examined under a microscope to see which kind of cancer it is and whether it has spread into the margin
• Your consultant will close the surgical wound with stitches and apply a dressing over the wound

Cryosurgery

This type of surgery uses liquid nitrogen (an extremely cold substance) to freeze and remove cancer cells. It is normally used to treat early basal and squamous cell carcinomas. Cryosurgery is a minimally invasive procedure with a low risk of bleeding and a fast recovery time.

During cryosurgery:

• You may be given local anaesthetic to numb the area before the procedure
• Your consultant applies liquid nitrogen to your skin using an aerosol spray or cotton applicator
• Over the next few days, a scab forms which then drops off over the next couple of weeks taking the cancer cells with it
• Cryosurgery may need to be repeated more than once

Curettage and electrocautery

This type of surgery may be used to treat small cancer lesions. During the procedure, the lesion is scraped away while heat or electricity is used to control any bleeding.

During curettage and electrocautery:

• The area is numbed using local anaesthetic
• Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, your consultant will scrape away the cancer using an instrument called a curette
• As the lesion is removed, your consultant will use an electrically heated loop or needle to cauterise the wound (stop any bleeding) and destroy any remaining cancer cells
• You may need to have this procedure more than once

Mohs surgery

This is a specialised surgical technique where your consultant removes the cancer in thin layers, examining each layer under a microscope until no cancer cells can be seen. The aim is to ensure that all the cancer cells are removed but as much healthy tissue as possible remains.

Your consultant will provide you with an estimated recovery timeline based on your individual circumstances.

After your skin cancer facial skin removal treatment:

• You can expect to have some pain and swelling for the first few days after your surgery. Over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help manage any pain or discomfort. Swelling is normal and will resolve gradually - applying ice packs wrapped in a cloth can help swelling go down faster, but check with your consultant first
• Your healthcare team will give you instructions on caring for your surgical wound and a follow-up appointment if you have stitches that need to be removed
• Limit physical activities for around two weeks to allow your surgical wound to heal
• If you have a skin graft, avoid any movement or exercises that stretch or rub the skin graft for at least three weeks after your surgery
• You can normally shower 24 to 48 hours after your surgery. Clean your wound with soap and water and gently pat dry. Avoid immersing your surgical wound in water such as swimming or bathing for two weeks, or until your consultant tells you it's ok.
• Take any medications and apply any ointments as prescribed

How many nights will I need to stay in hospital?

Most skin cancer facial skin removal surgery is performed as a day case, meaning you'll normally go home later the same day. For larger skin cancers where a general anaesthetic was used, you may need to spend one night in hospital after your surgery.

Will I be able to drive home?

Whether you can drive yourself home after your surgery depends on several factors such as the type of surgery and anaesthetic you had, the area of your face where the procedure was performed and how you feel after your procedure. If you were given a general anaesthetic, sedation or strong painkillers, you must not drive for 24 hours after your surgery. If you only had local anaesthetic, talk to your consultant about whether you can drive home from the hospital after your surgery.

How soon can I go back to work?

How soon you can go back to work after your surgery depends on the type of skin cancer facial removal surgery you had, your individual recovery, and the type of job you do. Most people return to work within a week or two of skin cancer facial skin removal treatment.

How soon can I drive?

You can drive when you can safely control your vehicle and perform an emergency stop. Do not drive for 24 hours after a general anaesthetic as your concentration and reaction times may still be affected. If you had a local anaesthetic, you should be fine to drive within a few hours of your skin cancer facial skin removal surgery but check with your consultant first.

When will I be back to normal?

Recovery from any type of surgery is a gradual process that is different for everyone. You can help your recovery to go more smoothly by listening to your body, taking time to rest and being as healthy as possible during your recovery. Follow your consultant's postoperative instructions carefully and call the hospital if you have any questions or concerns.

Most skin cancer facial skin removal wounds take between one and three weeks to heal. If you have skin grafts, full healing may take a little longer.

Most people are fully recovered by around three weeks after skin cancer facial removal treatment.

Skin cancer facial skin removal treatment is a safe procedure that is normally performed as a day case under local anaesthetic, but like all types of surgery, there is a small risk of complications. Your consultant will explain all the possible risks and complications before your surgery and answer any questions you may have about your procedure. Being as well-informed as possible about what to expect from your surgery will help put your mind at rest and allow you to make an informed decision so please ask any questions you may have.

Possible complications of any surgery include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Blood clots
• Adverse reactions to the anaesthetic

Possible complications specific to skin cancer facial skin removal treatment include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Scarring
• Poor wound healing
• Nerve damage (may be temporary or permanent)
• Incomplete removal of the cancer (rare)

• Flexible appointment times and locations that are convenient for you
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
• Private ensuite rooms as standard
• A range of delicious healthy meals
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to see a consultant or learn more about skin cancer facial skin removal treatment, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0808 189 5499.

Treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer NHS

Surgery for small skin cancers Cancer Research UK

Surgery for Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers American Cancer Society

Are you at risk of skin cancer? British Skin Foundation