Skin Cancer Removal & Excision, Melbourne
Where a biopsy confirms a BCC, SCC or melanoma, surgical excision remains the gold-standard treatment. Most skin cancer removals are a straightforward same-day procedure under local anaesthetic, performed onsite at our Heatherton clinic — no hospital admission.
How surgical excision works
Once a skin biopsy confirms a diagnosis of skin cancer, the recommended treatment is excision — surgically removing the cancer along with a margin of healthy surrounding skin, to make sure no cancerous cells are left behind.
Depending on the size and location of the lesion, most skin cancers can be excised in clinic as an office procedure under local anaesthetic, without the need for a hospital admission.
What happens, step by step
Local anaesthetic
The area around the lesion is numbed with a local anaesthetic, so the procedure itself is comfortable.
Excision with clear margins
The skin cancer is surgically removed along with a margin of healthy tissue around it, aiming for complete, clear margins in a single procedure.
Histopathological confirmation
Every specimen removed is sent for histopathological examination, to confirm the excision was complete and the margins are clear.
Results & next steps
Dr Poboran discusses your results with you and, if further treatment is needed, plans the next step together with you.
Occasionally, pathology shows that the initial margins weren't quite wide enough to fully clear the cancer. In this case, a second excision with wider margins may be recommended to ensure the area is completely clear.
Frequently asked questions
What happens during a skin cancer excision?
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, the lesion is removed with a margin of surrounding tissue, and the wound is closed with sutures. You are awake throughout and go home the same day. The tissue is sent for histopathology to confirm the diagnosis and that the margins are clear.
Is skin cancer surgery done at the clinic or in hospital?
Excisions are performed onsite in our Heatherton procedure room under local anaesthetic. No hospital admission or general anaesthetic is required for standard skin cancer excisions.
How long do stitches stay in after a skin cancer excision?
It depends on the site. Sutures on the face are usually removed after about five to seven days, while sutures on the trunk and limbs generally stay in for ten to fourteen days. Dr Poboran will give you a specific date and wound care instructions on the day.
Will I have a scar after skin cancer surgery?
Any excision leaves a scar. The incision is planned to follow natural skin creases wherever possible so the result settles as discreetly as it can, and scars typically continue to fade over the following twelve months.
How soon will I get my results?
Histopathology results usually come back within about a week. The clinic will contact you to discuss the findings and whether any further treatment or follow-up is needed.
Skin cancer checks across South East Melbourne
Our clinic at G07/12 Corporate Drive, Heatherton VIC 3202 is a short drive from the bayside and south eastern suburbs, and we regularly see patients from:
- Heatherton
- Moorabbin
- Highett
- Mentone
- Dingley Village
- Clayton South
- Oakleigh South
- Bentleigh East
- Clarinda
- Braeside
- Mordialloc
- Parkdale
- Springvale
- Keysborough
- Sandringham
- Beaumaris
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