Local Minor Operations

We would not look to remove anything that looks cancerous, malignant or suspicious. We may need to perform further tests like ultrasound to ensure it is safe to proceed.

If we felt the lesion was suspicious we will refer you back to your NHS GP at no extra cost for consideration of a referral under the suspected skin cancer 2 week wait service. You can further refer you to see a private skin cancer specialist should you wish to follow this route.

Liquid nitrogen is used to perform cryosurgery. Many skin lesions can be treated including all types of wart (includes verruca), seborrheic keratosis, lentigos, skin tags, solar skin damage, Molluscum contagiosum, Genital warts and some mucosal lesions.

Absolutely. This is a legal requirement. Prior to any procedure we will discuss with you the treatment options including leaving the lesion alone. Information about any surgical options will be discussed with an emphasis on the risks of the surgical procedure. We will give you space to make a decision, you will not be under any pressure to sign a consent form or go ahead with the procedure straight away.

Prior to any procedure, you will be fully informed of the specific risks and likelihood of this risk occurring. We will develop a plan around reducing these risks. Sometimes this includes not proceeding with surgery. You are under no obligation to proceed after consult. Some of the common risks are:

Infection: Even with proper sterilization, there is always a small risk of infection at the surgical site. This risk is dramatically increased if your diabetes is poorly controlled, or you contaminate the wound after surgery.

Bleeding: Minor bleeding during or after the procedure is common, but excessive bleeding (haemorrhage) can occur in rare cases. We will only let you leave once heavy bleeding has stopped.

Reaction to Anaesthesia: Local anaesthesia is typically used for community surgeries, and allergic reactions or other side effects (like dizziness or nausea) can occur. This is rare, and we work well within safe toxic limits.

Scarring: Although minor, ALL procedures result in some degree of scarring or depigmentation. Sometimes this is almost imperceptible. Depending on the patient’s skin type and the location of the surgery, hypertrophic and keloid scars can form. If you are worried about scarring, we can talk through this in more detail.

Pain and Discomfort: Pain after surgery is usually mild, but in some cases, it may persist longer than expected. The initial injections to numb the skin is similar to being stung by a wasp.

Nerve Damage: In rare cases, nerves near the surgical site can be damaged, leading to numbness, tingling, long term neuropathic pain or weakness.

Blood Clots: Though less common in community surgery, there's always a slight risk of developing a blood clot, particularly if a limb needs to be immobilised for a period. We will work to reduce this risk.

Wound Healing Issues: Delayed healing or poor wound closure can occur, especially in conditions like poorly controlled diabetes, wounds close to the bottom, wounds where there is poor blood supply (e.g. shin) or if there's inadequate care post-surgery.

Some fluid filled cavities or lesions contain thin, viscous gelatinous fluid like substances. Sometimes these cannot be aspirated with a wide bore needle. In this case, a small cut can be made under sterile conditions to remove the fluid contents.