The excision of skin is one of the most common procedures to remove annoying and/or disfiguring spots such as birthmarks, warts, fibroids, etc. The spot is surgically removed and stitched.

The operation

The plastic surgeon will mark the area and give an injection of local anesthetic. The injection of the anesthetic causes a somewhat burning sensation. The skin tenses up due to the injection and becomes temporarily pale in color. The skin is incised and the piece of skin is removed down to the subcutaneous fatty tissue. Any small bleeding vessels are burned by the surgeon. The wound edges are then stitched or taped together. You can feel the plastic surgeon during the treatment but you don't experience any pain.

After treatment

You are advised to keep the area as clean as possible. You can just take a shower. In most cases the wound is stitched, the stitches, if they are not dissolvable, are almost always removed a week to 9 days later. After the treatment you may experience pain. You can feel free to take a painkiller, preferably Paracetamol.

For healing, it is important to avoid tension on the wound edges as much as possible. Especially wounds on the back, shoulders and lower legs can be under a lot of stress when moving. Certain movements such as bending down, lifting, putting on and taking off clothes should be avoided or done with extreme care. Depending on the location and size of the wound, sports are not recommended for one to four weeks after surgery.

Ultraviolet rays are not good for scars, they can therefore remain red for an unnecessarily long time. In addition, exposure to the sun can cause pigmentation in the treated area which can darken the scar. It is best to keep the scars covered for the first three months after treatment and to apply sunblock to the skin from 2 weeks after surgery.

In all cases of excision, scarring occurs. Some people's scars heal better than others. Usually after a few months almost nothing of the scar is visible. This depends on the skin type and localization. Sometimes the scar thickens considerably. Hypertrophy (excessive swelling or enlargement) or keloid formation (scar tissue) can occur. Patients with Asian or Creole skin are more likely to have this complication. A hematoma may occur, which usually includes swelling. An infection may also occur, manifested by pain swelling, redness and pus from the wound.

If unexpected problems arise, for example if an infection develops, contact us.