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If you have a skin lesion, you're not alone. According to The British Skin Foundation, around 13 million people visit their GP with a skin condition each year.
This is a common inflammatory skin condition that causes dry skin, itchiness, rashes and skin infections. Eczema affects one in five children and one in 10 adults in the UK. It can make your skin unbearably itchy, sore, and raw.
Psoriasis
This is a skin disease that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin across your body. It is less common than eczema, affecting around 2% of people in the UK. Psoriasis varies in severity from person to person.
A skin lesion is an area of your skin that looks abnormal or different from their surrounding area. There are many kinds of skin lesions and many different conditions that cause them. Examples of skin lesions include moles, skin tags, blisters, and cysts. Some skin lesions are benign, which means they are not cancerous and that they're unlikely to spread to other parts of your body. Others are cancerous, which means you might need other treatment as well as skin lesion removal surgery to treat them.
The information below refers mostly to treatment for benign (non-cancerous) skin lesions, such as fluid-filled blisters and skin tags.
Dermatology: what is it?
Skin lesions are treated by dermatologists: doctors that specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions. Dermatology describes the branch of medicine concerned with your skin and the various conditions that can affect it. There are over 2,000 skin disorders recognised by The British Association of Dermatologists, and consultant dermatologists are the best providers of treatment for these.
Common skin conditions include:
Acne
This is a skin condition caused by plugged hair follicles under your skin. It causes red bumps across your skin (often on your face), which may be painful and can be filled with pus. Some people find the appearance of their acne unsightly, which can affect their self-esteem and general quality of life.
Rosacea
This is a long-term skin condition that mainly affects your face. Its symptoms include dry skin, swelling around your eyes, and redness across your nose, cheeks, and forehead. Rosacea is thought to be triggered by factors like alcohol, spicy foods and cheese.
This is a common inflammatory skin condition that causes dry skin, itchiness, rashes and skin infections. Eczema affects one in five children and one in 10 adults in the UK. It can make your skin unbearably itchy, sore, and raw.
Psoriasis
This is a skin disease that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin across your body. It is less common than eczema, affecting around 2% of people in the UK. Psoriasis varies in severity from person to person.
Many skin conditions, such as acne, can be effectively managed with topical treatments.
Some skin lesions, caused by conditions such as psoriasis, can be frozen off in a similar way to warts or verucas (this process is known as cryotherapy). This treatment often uses liquid nitrogen to freeze off a lesion. Skin lesions can also be treated with a procedure called heat therapy (also known as electrocautery), during which your doctor applies a heated oil to the base of the lesion to remove it. While cryotherapy and electrocautery are highly effective treatment options, they can cause irritation and temporary skin discoloration in some people. They don't always fully remove a skin lesion, either.
Surgical removal has the advantage of removing a skin lesion completely.
If you would like to find out more about skin lesion removal surgery, you can speak with one of our friendly advisors for more details by calling 0141 300 5009.
There are many reasons why you might need skin lesion removal surgery. As mentioned above, you might suffer from a skin condition such as acne, eczema, or psoriasis. Other types of skin lesions that can be removed through surgery include:
Seborrheic keratoses
These are flesh-coloured, brown, or black wart-like oval shaped or round spots. They are harmless, but can be itchy, and some people find them unsightly.
Actinic keratoses (solar keratoses)
Actinic keratoses (also called solar keratoses) are dry, scaly patches of skin that have been damaged by the sun. They are usually harmless, but there is a small chance they could become skin cancer, so it is important to have them examined by your doctor.
Epidermoid cyst
These are small, non-cancerous fluid-filled bumps that grow beneath your skin. They are one of the most common types of cysts, commonly found on your face, neck, chest, shoulders, or the skin around your genitals.
Pyogenic granuloma
These are small, round, non-cancerous growths containing a large number of blood vessels. They are red and grow rapidly. Although they are harmless, they can catch on clothing and bleed easily.
Is skin lesion removal surgery right for you?
If your doctor suspects your skin lesion is cancerous, they will recommend you have it removed. If your skin lesion is not cancerous, you don't have to have it removed. However, the procedure could be beneficial for you in a number of ways.
For example, if you find your skin lesion removal is regularly catching on your clothing, causing discomfort each time, or if you find the appearance of your skin lesion and/or where it is located on your body unsightly, skin lesion removal surgery can eliminate these problems and help you regain your confidence.
You can usually see a consultant dermatologist for your initial appointment within 48 hours of booking with us.
At your initial consultation, your dermatologist will take a detailed examination of your medical history and examine your skin lesion carefully. They will also ask about existing medical conditions you suffer from and how these affect your daily life. If your consultant decides that you need skin lesion removal surgery to treat the lesion, or to determine whether it is cancerous, they will share more information about the process of this and book the treatment for you.
After your initial consultation, your consultant and multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals will ensure you understand the next steps in your journey and how to prepare for surgery.
At your initial consultation, your dermatologist will take a detailed examination of your medical history and examine your skin lesion carefully. They will also ask about existing medical conditions you suffer from and how these affect your daily life. If your consultant decides that you need skin lesion removal surgery to treat the lesion, or to determine whether it is cancerous, they will share more information about the process of this and book the treatment for you.
After your initial consultation, your consultant and multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals will ensure you understand the next steps in your journey and how to prepare for surgery.
What happens during your skin lesion removal surgery depends on which type of skin lesion you have, its size, and where it is located. There are two main types of skin lesion removal surgery. These are:
Complete excision surgery (excision biopsy)
If you have a large skin lesion, or your consultant suspects your lesion is cancerous, they will perform complete excision surgery. During complete excision surgery, your consultant will use a specialist instrument (usually a scalpel) to remove the whole lesion, as well as some of the normal tissue surrounding it.
This surgery is performed under local anaesthetic, meaning the operated area will be numb (and therefore painless) but you will still be awake during the operation. If your consultant performs this surgery because they suspect the lesion is cancerous, they will send the removed skin lesion to a pathologist, who will examine it under a microscope to confirm whether or not it is cancerous.
After surgery, your consultant will close the wound using stitches and cover it with a temporary dressing.
Partial excision surgery (shave biopsy)
If you have a smaller lesion, such as a small mole or skin tag, your consultant will perform partial removal surgery to "shave off" the lesion. During partial removal surgery, your consultant will cut across the base of the lesion so that it is level with the skin that surrounds it. They will close the wound using stitches and cover it with a temporary dressing.
This procedure will also be performed under local anaesthetic. It will not be performed if your consultant suspects the skin lesion is cancerous.
Both procedures typically take under an hour to perform.
You can usually return home on the same day as the procedure, but it will take a few hours for the local anaesthetic to wear off. After it has worn off, you might feel some soreness and tenderness around your wound. You can take over the counter painkillers to manage these symptoms at home.
Your consultant will arrange a follow-up appointment to remove your dressing and stitches and explain how to look after your wound as it heals. You should avoid getting the dressing wet until this appointment. You should avoid touching or scratching your wound after the dressing has been removed, and take care not to knock it.
Your consultant will arrange a follow-up appointment to remove your dressing and stitches and explain how to look after your wound as it heals. You should avoid getting the dressing wet until this appointment. You should avoid touching or scratching your wound after the dressing has been removed, and take care not to knock it.
Your consultant will offer advice tailored to your situation as you heal at home, including how to wash and protect your wound to avoid scarring or infection. They might offer you a special ointment or gel, along with instructions to help speed up the healing process.
You should be able to return to work and everyday activities the day after the procedure. However, if you have a strenuous job that involves using the operated area, you should rest at home for as long as your consultant recommends. You should also avoid strenuous exercises that might affect the operated area until it has healed.
The time that it takes for your wound to heal depends on a number of factors, including how large the lesion was and where it was located on your body. You consultant will be able to provide you with a recovery timeline based on your circumstances, which you can use to understand how quickly you can return to work and exercise.
The final cost of your procedure will depend on various factors, including the type of surgery you need to remove the lesion.
Our fixed-price packages include all surgery fees and aftercare appointments with our consultant dermatologists. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant’s outpatient appointment consultation fee are charged separately.
We provide fixed term monthly payment plans over 10 months to five years with no deposit required. If you decide to pay over 10 months, you will pay interest-free. If you are paying for a longer period, you will pay 14.9% APR.
Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you. More details on our flexible payment options can be found here.
If you would like to learn more, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.
Excision of lesion of skin or subcutaneous tissue - up to three, head & neck (excluding lipoma)
Please be aware that the following prices are a guide price. Your final price will be confirmed in writing following your consultation and any necessary diagnostic tests.
| Patient pathway | Initial consultation | Diagnostic Investigations | Main treatment | Post discharge care | Guide price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital fees | N/A | Not included | £1,100 | Included | £1,100 |
| Consultants fees from | £200 | N/A | Included | Included | £200 |
| Guide price | £1,300 | ||||
Excision of lesion of skin or subcutaneous tissue - up to three, trunk & limbs (excluding lipoma)
Please be aware that the following prices are a guide price. Your final price will be confirmed in writing following your consultation and any necessary diagnostic tests.
| Patient pathway | Initial consultation | Diagnostic Investigations | Main treatment | Post discharge care | Guide price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital fees | N/A | Not included | £1,600 | Included | £1,600 |
| Consultants fees from | £200 | N/A | Included | Included | £200 |
| Guide price | £1,800 | ||||
When you choose to go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:
- Flexible appointment times and locations to fit your routine
- The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
- Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
- Comfortable and safe private facilities maintained by expert multidisciplinary teams
- Support by the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end
- Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
- Flexible payment options to spread the cost of your care
If you would like to learn more about this procedure, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.
