Skin lesion removal, including subcutaneous tissue

Skin lesion removal takes the lesion out, allowing its nature to be clarified in the laboratory, as well as the margins of the removal where relevant. Depending on the nature of the lesion, alternatives include no procedure with monitoring, medical or dermatological treatment, another destructive method, a prior sample or another surgical strategy. Not all of them suit every lesion, and some do not allow an equivalent laboratory analysis.

Before skin lesion removal, Dr Manon Belhoste asks to be told about all treatments, medicines, dietary supplements, allergies and medical or surgical history. An anticoagulant, an antiplatelet drug, a medicine containing aspirin or any other treatment that affects clotting is never stopped on your own. Tobacco and all nicotine should be stopped or cut down as much as possible, because nicotine increases the risk of delayed healing.

After skin lesion removal, moderate pain, a feeling of tightness, swelling, bruising and a temporary drop in sensitivity are possible. Dressings are kept in place and changed as Dr Manon Belhoste instructs at discharge. Strenuous exertion and pulling on the scar should be avoided until healing is sufficient. The scar must be strictly protected from the sun while it matures, and a graft or flap comes with additional instructions on protection, positioning and monitoring.

The removed tissue is sent to the laboratory for analysis, which clarifies the nature of the lesion and, where relevant, the margins of the removal. The final diagnosis may differ from the one assumed before the procedure. The result may lead to monitoring, to further removal if wider margins are needed, to a specialist opinion or to another treatment.

The price of skin lesion removal includes Dr Manon Belhoste's fees, consultations after the operation, anaesthesia and clinic fees at the La Phocéanne polyclinic or the Phénicia clinic.