Skin Surgery

Before your surgery begins, we will give you a quick injection of local anaesthetic to numb the skin.

• What it feels like: The injection may sting for about 10 seconds. Once it takes effect, you will not feel any sharp pain, though you might still feel some mild pushing or pressure.
• Temporary changes: The area may turn pale or white. This is normal and happens because the medicine contains a small amount of adrenaline to reduce bleeding and help the numbing effect last longer.
• Facial surgery: If your procedure is near your eyes or mouth, those muscles might temporarily droop. If your mouth is numb, take extra care with hot food and drinks to avoid accidentally burning or biting yourself.
• When it wears off: The numbing effect lasts around 2 hours. After this, your wound may feel sore. You can take paracetamol to help with pain, but please avoid aspirin and ibuprofen for the first 24 hours, as these can increase bleeding.

To prevent bleeding, the doctor may use an electronic cautery device to seal blood vessels or put in dissolving stitches under the skin.

• Pacemakers and implants: Please inform the nurse immediately if you have a pacemaker or an implanted heart defibrillator.
• Blood-thinning medication: If you take medicines like aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel, or apixaban, please let our nursing team know. Check with your GP beforehand to see if you need to safely stop taking them before your appointment.
• Bruising: Mild bleeding under the skin can cause bruising. If you have surgery on your face, this can sometimes give you a temporary black eye.
• Swelling: Swelling is common for the first 48 hours. Resting the area and keeping it raised will help reduce this.

Giving your body time to heal will help your wound close cleanly and lower the risk of complications.

• Legs or arms: Keep your arm or leg propped up on cushions as much as possible for the first 24 hours.
• Face: Avoid bending down or stooping. Sleep with an extra pillow to keep your head raised.
• Exercise and heavy lifting: Avoid all sports (including swimming), heavy lifting, and activities that stretch the area for 4 weeks.
• Long-term healing: Once your stitches are out, the skin will look healed on the surface, but it takes several months to regain its full strength and flexibility. It may stay pink for a while during this time.

• Stitch removal: You may have stitches for anywhere between 7 and 16 days, depending on where the surgery was performed. Our nurse will arrange an appointment to take them out.
• Keeping it dry: Keep your dressing completely dry for the first 48 hours.
• Washing: After 48 hours, you can gently remove the dressing. Wash the area as normal using Dermol 500 lotion instead of soap.

Infections can delay your healing and affect how your scar looks. They are more common in smokers, people with diabetes, those on immunosuppressant treatments, or if the skin area was heavily crusted before surgery.

When to seek help: Contact our nurse on 07797 755053 (or contact your GP or out-of-hours service) straight away if you notice:

• Pain that gets worse rather than better
• Increased redness or swelling around the wound
• Yellow or green pus leaking from the site

Because skin surgery involves cutting near tiny nerves, you might notice a change in feeling or slight weakness around the area. This usually improves as the area heals, though it can occasionally be permanent. It is also completely normal for scar tissue itself to feel slightly different to the surrounding skin.

Every skin surgery leaves a permanent scar. How a scar heals varies from person to person and depends on where it is on your body.

• Size and shape: A surgical scar can be up to three times wider than the original skin mark or spot. Procedures like punch biopsies, curettage, or shave removals may leave a small, pale indentation instead.
• Types of scars: Some people heal with a thin, flat white line, while others develop raised or bumpy scars. Scars over active muscles (such as the shoulders, back, or joints) are more likely to stretch over time.
• Healing time: Scars continuously change and improve. It can take up to two years for a scar to fully mature and settle.