Why Scars vary after Skin Cancer Surgery

When a skin cancer needs to be surgically removed, one of the questions patients often
have is: “What will the scar look like?”

The answer depends on a number of factors, including the size and location of the skin
cancer, how much tissue needs to be removed and how the resulting wound can be closed.
For some patients, the wound can be closed directly with stitches. For larger or more
complex defects, a skin flap or skin graft may be needed to reconstruct the area. A flap
uses nearby skin and tissue to cover the wound, while a graft uses skin taken from another
area of the body.

Dr Safvat considers the position and eventual appearance of the scar when planning skin
cancer surgery. Where possible and appropriate, incisions can be placed along natural
skin creases, folds or less noticeable areas. The aim is to remove the skin cancer
completely while also carefully planning how the resulting defect will be repaired for the best
aesthetic outcome.

Having skin cancer surgery performed by a Specialist Plastic Surgeon, such as Dr Safvat,
can be particularly valuable when skin cancers are removed from visible areas such as the
face, neck or arms or when reconstruction is required. Plastic surgery training includes
detailed knowledge of skin and soft tissue, as well as techniques for carefully bringing the
edges of a wound together. Dr Safvat uses precise, meticulous suturing techniques and
considers the direction and position of the incision as part of the overall surgical plan.
It is important to understand that any surgery to remove a skin cancer will leave a scar.
There is no way to surgically remove tissue without creating a scar. However, this does not
necessarily mean being left with a large or highly noticeable mark. The size and appearance
of the scar will depend on the surgery required, and scars generally change considerably as
they heal.

Initially, a scar may be red, raised or firm. Over the following months, it will usually soften
and gradually become less noticeable. How a scar heals also varies from person to person.
Scar care is also an important part of the healing process. Following surgery, Dr Safvat uses
a scar management protocol designed to support the scar as it matures and help improve
its appearance over time.

For Dr Safvat, skin cancer surgery is therefore about more than removing the cancer cells. It
involves careful surgical planning, reconstruction of the resulting defect and utmost attention
to the eventual position and minimal scaring.

Every patient and every scar is different, but the likely scar and the options for reconstruction
will be discussed with patients during an initial consultation to ensure a clear understanding
of what to expect.