This information sheet is intended to help you understand the operation and the aftercare that will be necessary to achieve the best result possible.

What is a lesion?

An area of diseased or wounded tissue.

This operation may be carried out under either a local or general anaesthetic.
An information leaflet is available which will provide you with the details you require regarding your anaesthetic (The Trust Information Leaflet ‘You and Your Anaesthetic’).

The surgeon will mark the area, make an incision and remove the lesion. You will feel a tugging and pulling sensation whilst the surgery takes place. You should not feel pain. If you do, tell the surgeon and he may be able to give you more local anaesthetic injection. Skin tissue will then be moved from a nearby area into the area where the lesion was.

• You will be left with a scar in the area where the lesion was. The scar is often longer than the size of the original lesion. Some patients make better scars than others depending on the individual’s skin type. All scars are red and raised initially, most do settle over a 12-month period.
• Sometimes the scars can become red and raised permanently and are often itchy, these are known as hypertrophic or keloid scars. They are very difficult to treat.
• The scars may also stretch and are sometimes tender.
• There will be an additional scar where the skin flap was taken from.
• If the wound becomes infected you may require a course of antibiotics.
• Sometimes part of the lesion, which is being excised, is left behind. This may cause a recurrence of the lesion. Both would require further surgery.
• On rare occasions the blood supply to the skin tissue that has been moved is of poor quality and part of the skin dies away. This may result in you requiring further surgery or regular dressings until the wound has healed.

After the operation you will return to the ward and may be allowed home later that day. You will be given appointments to have the stitches trimmed or removed at 5-10 days and another for a review in an outpatient clinic in approximately 6 - 8 weeks. Your wounds should be kept covered by any dressings until the stitches are removed.

For most patients this operation does not involve these complications and they are pleased with the results of surgery. This sheet is not a complete list of all the possible complications, but it is provided to act as an additional source of information, following your discussion about the operation.

If you require any further information or advice please contact:

Sister or Nurse in Charge Plastic Surgery Out Patient Department, RVI

Telephone:  (0191) 282 4228 (direct line) Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm, or

Sister or Nurse in Charge Ward 47, RVI

Telephone:  (0191) 282 5647 (direct line) anytime