Skin Cancer Surgery
Skin cancer surgery removes basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma lesions with an appropriate margin of surrounding tissue, and then closes or reconstructs the defect. Suspicious lesions are prioritised for prompt review — most are seen within 48 hours.
◉ Fig.04 · Excision plan — lesion, inner margin, and outer excision margin
Who it's for
Anyone with a diagnosed skin cancer, a lesion suspicious enough to warrant excision, or a biopsy result that requires wider treatment. Fair-skinned South Africans are at particular risk; sun exposure over decades is the leading contributor.
If you are unsure whether a mole or lesion needs review, the skin self-check tool can help you decide how urgently to be seen. It does not diagnose.
How Dr Hoffmann approaches it
Every lesion is planned individually: type, size, location, likely depth, and how the defect will be closed. Dr Hoffmann selects a margin appropriate to the diagnosis, and plans the closure or reconstruction before the excision — so the patient knows what to expect on the day, and so the final scar sits in a favourable line.
The procedure itself
Smaller lesions are excised in the rooms under local anaesthetic. Larger lesions, those in cosmetically sensitive areas, or those requiring flap or graft reconstruction are done in theatre. The excised tissue is sent for histology in every case; the report guides whether any further treatment is needed.
Anaesthesia
Local anaesthetic for smaller lesions in the rooms; general anaesthesia in an accredited theatre for larger excisions, reconstructions, or lesions in areas that would be difficult to treat awake. Most theatre cases are day admissions.
Recovery timeline
- Day 1–3Dressing kept in place and dry. Mild discomfort is expected and usually managed with simple analgesia.
- Day 7–14Sutures removed. Histology report is typically available and discussed at this visit.
- Week 2–4Wound settles. Scar management (silicone, sun protection) begins once the wound has fully closed.
- Month 3Scar begins to fade and soften.
- Month 6–12Scar continues to mature over the first year. Ongoing skin surveillance is recommended for anyone with a history of skin cancer.
Risks
All surgery carries risk. General considerations include the risks of anaesthesia, bleeding, infection, delayed wound healing, scarring, altered sensation, asymmetry, and — in a small proportion of cases — the need for revision. Dr Hoffmann will discuss the specific risks relevant to your procedure and your health in detail during consultation. Results vary between individuals; no outcome can be guaranteed.
Common questions
Request a consultation with Dr Hoffmann
Every plan begins with an unhurried conversation, an examination, and drawn markings — never a quote over the phone.