Skin cancer surgery removes suspicious skin lesions and may also involve reconstruction of the subsequent skin defect to promote safe healing.
Surgical treatment, especially with early diagnosis, is highly effective, and most people make an excellent recovery with the right plan and follow-up.
Procedure Time
Typically 30 – 90 minutes depending on the size, number and if reconstruction is required.
Anaesthetic
Local anaesthetic for most lesions; general anaesthetic for larger or more complex cases.
Recovery
Most wounds heal in 2 weeks; larger reconstructions may take longer.
Full Results
Once wounds have healed and scars settle, typically 3 – 6 months.
Surgery aims to completely remove your suspected or biopsy-proven skin cancer with a clear margin.
Tissue analysis will confirm the exact type of skin cancer, determine how aggressive or high-risk the skin cancer is and guide any further treatment or follow-up requirements.
If possible, the defect will be directly closed, leaving you with a linear scar. If reconstruction is needed, this will be with skin grafts or skin flaps to cover the skin defect. Care is taken to achieve the best aesthetic outcome.
Most people can return to work and resume light activities within 24h of surgery. Care must be taken to resume more physical activities and avoid getting the wound wet until the skin has healed (usually around 1-2 weeks).
If you are susceptible to developing skin cancers, or want the reassurance of continued skin surveillance, we can arrange regular follow-up appointments. If you have a high-risk skin cancer, a detailed surveillance plan will be sent to you after discussion at the Warwickshire skin cancer MDT.
We support you through surgery and beyond
Your consultation focuses on the relevant history, examining your lesion, reviewing any biopsy results, and examining the surrounding skin. Your surgeon will explain your diagnosis, the recommended treatment and whether reconstruction is needed after removal. You’ll have time to ask questions and fully understand the plan, including follow-up intervals and sun-protection guidance.
Most skin cancer procedures are performed under local anaesthetic, in a surgical treatment room. The cancer is removed with a margin of normal skin, according to the British Association of Dermatology National guidelines, to aim for complete clearance. Depending on the size and location, the wound may be closed directly with sutures, reconstructed with a skin graft, or a local flap. Dressings are applied, and you can usually return home shortly afterwards. Larger or more complex cases may require a short hospital stay.
Keep the dressing clean and dry until your follow-up appointment. Your stitches will usually be removed one week post-surgery, depending on the site. If you undergo reconstruction with a graft or flap, the dressing clinic nursing team will follow up with you one week later. Mild swelling, pain or tightness is common and settles gradually. Avoid stretching the area while it heals. We’ll review your pathology results together and arrange a follow-up depending on your diagnosis and the complexity of the surgery you have had. Routine follow-ups are not necessary for low-risk BCC. SCCs and malignant melanomas will be discussed at the Warwickshire skin MDT, and regular reviews will be offered privately or back in the NHS. Long-term sun protection (not avoidance) is essential to reduce the risk of developing future lesions.
At The Antler Clinic, your care is led by Mr David Izadi, an experienced Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Skin Cancer Surgeon whose work combines advanced surgical expertise with the calm, honest, and patient-centred approach that patients value most.
With over 20 years of specialist surgical experience and more than 8,000 skin cancer procedures performed, Mr Izadi has extensive expertise in the diagnosis, treatment, and reconstruction of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), melanoma, and other skin lesions. He is a core member of the Warwickshire NHS Skin Cancer Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), working alongside dermatologists, oncologists, pathologists, and specialist nurses to deliver the highest standards of evidence-based care.
As a Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Mr Izadi’s expertise extends beyond removing skin cancer. He specialises in achieving complete cancer clearance while preserving appearance and function wherever possible, using advanced reconstructive techniques to minimise scarring and optimise cosmetic outcomes.
Every consultation begins with a detailed assessment and a clear discussion about your diagnosis, treatment options, and concerns. Mr Izadi takes time to understand what matters most to you, ensuring that every treatment plan is tailored to your individual needs and delivered with safety, precision, and compassion.
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Surgery is a common and effective treatment for skin cancers, including BCC, SCC and melanoma.
Most skin cancer procedures take 30 – 90 minutes, depending on the size, number and location of the skin cancer and complexity of reconstruction.
Local anaesthetic keeps you comfortable during your skin cancer surgery and for several hours afterwards. Mild soreness after the anaesthetic has faded is common, but you should be able to manage this with over-the-counter pain relief.
The depth of the excision depends on your cancer type. At the very least, the skin is removed down to the underlying fatty layer. To make sure we get full clearance of the tumour, removal includes the tumour and a margin of healthy tissue peripherally and under the skin lesion.
Most skin cancers are highly curable. The majority of malignant melanoma and high-risk SCCs are also curable, but as they can be more aggressive locally and have the potential to spread to regional lymph nodes, you will need a follow-up surveillance program. After discussion at the Warwickshire skin cancer MDT, we’ll give you a bespoke follow-up plan for SCCs and malignant melanomas.
Mohs surgery is precise and effective, and especially helpful for high-risk cancers, which are close to critical structures (e.g., eyelids) and for some skin cancers which have been previously incompletely removed. We at the Antler Clinic do not offer this service, but can help guide you to a specialist, should this surgery be indicated.
Recurrence of skin cancer is uncommon after complete removal, although people who have had skin cancer are at higher risk of developing new lesions. Higher-risk skin cancers may be followed to monitor for any evidence of recurrence, as per guidelines set by the national skin cancer framework.
The risks of skin cancer surgery include incomplete excision (less than 3% from Mr Izadi’s self audit), infection, bleeding, pain, abnormal scarring (hypertrophic or keloid), scar sensitivity, wound healing delay, graft or flap failure and (rarely) recurrence. We’ll discuss all these risks carefully at your consultation.
Many skin cancers are not painful, but lesions that ulcerate or bleed can become sore.
Early treatment of skin cancer offers the best outcomes. Delaying your treatment can allow the cancer to grow, spread and rarely become too complex to remove.
This depends on the presentation and should be discussed with the specialist. Early suspected skin cancers may be managed with topical chemotherapy ointments. If surgery is indicated, it is important to treat you as soon as possible. SCCs and malignant melanomas should be treated more quickly due to the risk of spread. BCCs grow slowly but still require timely care.
Skin cancer may appear as a new lump or mole, sore, scaly patch, changing (colour and diameter) mole, or an area that bleeds or fails to heal. You should get any persistent change assessed by an expert.
Once fully removed, the risk of skin cancer spread after surgery is low. Regular follow-ups for high-risk skin cancers will help make sure we identify any new concerns early.
Most skin cancer procedures use local anaesthetic. General anaesthetic is reserved for large or complex cases, with the majority being best managed in the NHS setting.
Suspected skin cancers can have an initial small tissue biopsy for confirmation of diagnosis before embarking on surgery.
Depending on the size and clinical findings, you may be suitable for topical chemotherapy treatment. Mr Izadi will always discuss both surgical and non surgical options with you if appropriate.
Radiotherapy can be effective at treating certain skin cancers, but will need a confirmed histological biopsy diagnosis in the first place.
Although skin cancer is more common in the lighter skin groups, it can also present in patients with darker skin. If you have a suspicious skin lesion, that is new or has changed, it is advised to get a professional opinion.
These include Merkel Cell Cancer, Dermatofibrosarcoma Protruberans (DFSP), Sebaceous Carcinoma and Merkel Cell Carcinoma. As with other high-risk skin cancers, Mr Izadi will discuss your case at the Warwickshire skin MDT to offer you a bespoke plan for treatment and follow-up.
Certain pre-cancerous growths are suitable for topical treatment. Surgery is also an option. Mr Izadi will discuss and formulate a bespoke plan for your care.
clear and transparent costs
You will receive a clear quotation setting out the cost of your treatment and what is included before you decide whether to proceed.
A new consultation is charged at £200.
Follow-up consultations are charged at £150, unless the appointment forms part of an agreed surgical package or postoperative follow-up pathway.
Consultation fees are payable regardless of whether surgery is subsequently arranged. A consultation provides assessment, advice and discussion of treatment options; it does not guarantee that surgery will be recommended or offered.
Patients are kindly asked to provide at least three working days’ notice if they need to cancel or rearrange an appointment.
Non-attendance, or cancellation with less than three working days’ notice, will incur a fee of £125. This fee reflects the clinical time reserved for the appointment and the difficulty of offering the appointment to another patient at short notice.
For self-pay patients, surgery is usually provided as a fixed-price package. This is intended to give patients clarity and reassurance about the cost of their planned procedure.
Your written quotation will confirm what is included. In most cases, the package price includes:
Hospital fees for the planned procedure
Surgeon’s fee
Anaesthetist’s fee, where applicable
Standard postoperative follow-up appointments relating to the procedure
Routine aftercare directly related to the planned surgery, as specified in your quotation
Package prices are based on the procedure agreed at the time of booking. If the surgical plan changes, if additional procedures are requested, or if further treatment is required outside the agreed package, additional fees may apply.
Self-pay surgical packages usually include a period of cover for the treatment of complications directly related to the procedure. The exact terms, duration and exclusions of this cover are set by the hospital where your surgery is performed.
Depending on the hospital, complication cover may apply for a defined period, which may be 6 or 12 months. Full details will be provided by the relevant hospital before surgery.
Complication cover is not a guarantee that all future treatment, revision surgery or additional procedures will be provided without charge. Cover may not apply to unrelated medical problems, pre-existing conditions, treatment required outside the hospital’s terms, or surgery requested for aesthetic preference rather than a recognised complication.
In an emergency, patients should seek urgent medical attention through the most appropriate service, including NHS emergency care where necessary.
Every effort is made to achieve the best possible outcome, but no surgical procedure can guarantee a specific result, perfect symmetry, invisible scarring or complete satisfaction. Healing, scarring, swelling and final results vary between individuals.
If revision surgery is required because of a complication, eligibility for cover will depend on the hospital’s package terms and the clinical circumstances.
If surgery has been performed to an appropriate clinical standard, but a patient remains dissatisfied with the aesthetic outcome or wishes to pursue further refinement, any revision or additional surgery will usually incur further charges. These may include hospital fees, surgeon’s fees and anaesthetic fees.
For skin cancer or skin lesion surgery, the aim is to remove the lesion completely with an appropriate margin. However, final clearance can only be confirmed after laboratory analysis of the tissue.
Based on Mr Izadi’s internal self-audit data, his incomplete resection rate for skin cancers is less than 3%. This figure is provided for general information only and does not remove the possibility that any individual lesion may require further treatment, depending on the type, size, site, behaviour and histological features of the skin cancer.
If histology shows that a lesion, including a skin cancer, has been incompletely excised, or if a skin lesion recurs further surgery or additional treatment may be recommended. This will usually incur additional fees, including hospital and surgeon’s fees, unless otherwise confirmed in writing.
Unless specifically included in your written quotation, additional costs may apply for investigations, scans, specialist opinions, extra procedures, further hospital admissions, prescriptions, dressings, garments, travel, accommodation, time off work or treatment unrelated to the planned surgery.
The written quotation and the hospital’s own terms and conditions will take precedence over any general information provided on this website.
Payment terms, deposits, cancellation policies and refund arrangements are determined by the hospital where your procedure is booked. These will be provided to you before surgery.
Surgery can only proceed once all required payments have been received and all relevant consent, preoperative assessment and hospital requirements have been completed.
To help make treatment more affordable, you may choose to spread the cost of your procedure through a personal medical loan with Chrysalis Finance. Subject to eligibility and approval, Chrysalis offers a range of flexible finance options, allowing you to pay for your treatment in manageable monthly instalments rather than a single upfront payment.
The hospitals we work with offer finance options through Chrysalis Finance. Please contact your chosen hospital directly for further information or to discuss any questions.
Mr Izadi is registered with the private medical insurers shown below. Coverage for consultations and treatment is subject to the terms of your policy and insurers approval.
Get in Touch
A consultation at The Antler Clinic is simply a chance to talk – to ask questions, explore your options, and decide what feels right for you.
You’ll leave with clarity, reassurance, and the same calm support that defines everything we do.
