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.
*This article is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All surgery carries risk, and individual results may vary. Dr Andre Safvat, MBBS FRACS, Specialist Plastic Surgeon (MED0001155201), provides consultations at Ethique Plastic Surgery. A referral from your GP is required before consultation.