Surgical Excision for BCC: What to Expect During and After Skin Cancer Removal

You’ve noticed a shiny bump, an open sore that hasn’t healed, or a red patch on your skin. Now you’re told that it’s basal cell carcinoma (BCC), a type of skin cancer. 

Skin cancer is somewhat ubiquitous; it’s more common than all other cancers combined. However, it’s not a condition you should take lightly or ignore. Untreated BCC can eventually destroy skin and bone. Surgical excision is a common method to remove basal cell carcinomas. It provides immediate results. 

At Turnquest Surgical Solutions, our board-certified general and bariatric surgeons — Dexter Turnquest, MD, and Victoria C. Chang, MD — are trained to excise basal cell carcinomas and other skin cancers. 

Here’s an outline of what you can expect during and after basal cell carcinoma removal.

During surgical excision for basal cell carcinomas

Before surgical excision, we biopsy the site to determine exactly what condition is affecting your skin. Once we know it’s basal cell carcinoma, we proceed with surgical excision. 

Surgical excision is exactly what it sounds like. Your surgeon removes precancerous and cancerous tissue via an incision. 

Don’t worry; the procedure won’t be painful. First, we thoroughly disinfect your skin. Then we administer local anesthesia to the site so you won’t feel any pain. We’ll wait a few minutes until the anesthesia begins to work. 

Once the area is thoroughly numbed, your doctor makes a small cut in your skin around the target area. Although the procedure isn’t painful, you may feel a pulling or tugging sensation while your doctor removes the abnormal tissue. 

You don’t want to see a prominent scar after the surgery. Your doctor performs an elliptical, or oval incision instead of using a circular shape. This method prevents your skin from puckering.  

To ensure that all of the cancer cells are removed, your doctor removes a small margin of surrounding skin with a normal appearance. Then your surgeon closes the incision with stitches. We send your tissue to a lab to ensure that the margins around the carcinoma are clear of cancer. 

After surgical excision for basal cell carcinomas

Your doctor gives you written instructions for post-op care after surgical excision for basal cell carcinoma. For the first couple of days, you won’t remove the bandage, keeping the wound clean and dry. When it’s time to remove the bandage, you’ll keep the wound moist with petroleum jelly or an ointment your doctor prescribes. 

After your surgery, you’ll likely have a bruise covering the area. Don’t worry; it’s temporary. Within two weeks, you’ll return to the office and have your stitches removed. 

Your doctor gives you a list of contraindicated activities after surgical excision. Until the stitches come out and possibly for a few days afterward, you’ll need to avoid swimming and gym workouts. Also, don’t lift any heavy objects while your stitches are in place. Only apply sunscreen or any makeup after the wound is completely healed. 

Use of sunscreen after surgical excision for basal cell carcinoma

Long-term exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays is the reason for your basal cell carcinoma. While your skin needs some sun to produce Vitamin D, the sun is carcinogenic. 

Use a mineral-based sunscreen with a high SPF (sun protective factor) every day, whether it’s cloudy or not. Try to avoid sun exposure for two to three months or longer to prevent the scar from darkening and to ensure optimal healing. Your scar will fade after a few months. 

Call Turnquest Surgical Solutions or book an appointment online at one of our two convenient offices in Houston.