Excision for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
Surgery Overview
Excision is the removal of a skin cancer along with some of the healthy skin tissue around it (margin). For this procedure, a Reference local anesthetic Opens New Window is used to numb the area.
After the cancerous area is removed, the incision is closed with stitches. If the incision is large, sometimes a skin Reference graft Opens New Window or flap is required. Reconstructive surgery may be needed if the excision surgery creates a scar.
Standard excision is different from Reference Mohs micrographic surgery. In Mohs surgery, the skin cancer is removed one layer at a time. Each layer is checked under a microscope right away. By doing Mohs surgery, the surgeon can cut away all the cancer cells and spare as much healthy skin as possible.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: October 2, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Amy McMichael, MD - Dermatology |
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