What is involved in excision of a skin lesion?
Your dermatologist will explain to you why the skin lesion needs excision and the procedure involved. You may have to sign a consent form to indicate that you consent to the surgical procedure. Tell your doctor if you are taking any medication (particularly aspirin or warfarin, which could make you bleed more), or if you have any allergies or medical conditions. Remember, to tell your doctor about any herbal remedies as a number of these can also lead to abnormal bleeding. The most common type of excision is an elliptical excision. The ellipse is designed so that the resulting scar runs parallel with existing skin creases. This ensures that the scar is as narrow and short as possible. The area to be excised is marked with a coloured pen. The dermatologist will then cut around and under the lesion with a scalpel and sharp scissors so that it is completely removed. The lesion is placed in formalin ready to go to the pathology laboratory. Here, a pathologist will examine the specimen and
