Skin cancer excision is a surgical procedure that removes a malignant skin lesion together with a margin of healthy surrounding skin, after which the site is rebuilt by direct closure, a local flap or a skin graft. The treating team decides the plan, and the operation aims to remove the tumour completely while preserving function and appearance.
The margin depends on the type, size and position of the tumour, and the removed tissue is examined in the laboratory to check whether removal is complete. In selected cases, Mohs surgery may be used to check the edges during the operation. Local or general anaesthesia is used, and reconstruction is done at the same session or later, once the margins are confirmed clear.
Operating time ranges from half an hour to several hours depending on complexity. The wound is monitored for weeks, stitches usually come out after one to two weeks, and long-term check-ups follow. Most people resume activity within weeks, and the scar or reconstruction usually settles over six months to a year.
The final cost is set after a medical consultant reviews your case and photos.
Bilgehan İlker completed his medical education at Trakya University Faculty of Medicine and specialized in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery at Dokuz Eylül University. He has performed hundreds of aesthetic and reconstructive procedures and has participated in academic research projects supported by TÜBİTAK. Dr. İlker is also an active member of national and international plastic surgery societies.
Op. Dr. Ali Can Günenc is a physician specializing in Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery. He completed his medical education between 2007 and 2013 at the Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. He then completed his residency at the University of Health Sciences Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital between 2013 and 2019, earning his title as a specialist. After advancing his professional career at Şişli Etfal and Yalova State Hospital, he currently provides services to his patients at the Medical Park Florya hospital. Dr. Günenc holds the European Board Certificate ...
Asst. Prof. Dr. Emrah Köksal is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Medical Park Göztepe Hospital (since 2025). He graduated from Trakya University Faculty of Medicine (2017) and completed his specialty training at Gülhane Military Medical Academy (2017-2023), then worked at Hakkari Yüksekova State Hospital. His focus includes closed rhinoplasty, breast aesthetics, eyelid surgery, face and neck lift, liposuction and BBL, and body contouring lifts.
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Prof. Dr. Hakan Ağır is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon and maxillofacial surgeon at Acibadem Altunizade Hospital, with Acibadem since 2020. A 1991 Hacettepe University graduate, he trained at Istanbul University and completed craniofacial fellowships in Adelaide, Wellington and at Chang Gung in Taiwan. Professor at Kocaeli University from 2015, he holds the European Board (FEBOPRAS) and treats cleft lip and palate, facial anomalies, rhinoplasty and breast surgery.
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Dr. Nargiz Ibrahimli is a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery at Acıbadem Kent Hospital in İzmir. She graduated from Azerbaijan Medical University Faculty of Medicine in 2017 and completed her specialty training in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery at Ege University Faculty of Medicine in 2024. She joined the Acıbadem Healthcare Group in October 2024 and has 8 years of medical experience.
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Prof. Dr. Ümit Naci Karaçal is a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon at Memorial Ankara Hospital, where he also works in the Breast Center. He graduated from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 1994 and trained in plastic surgery at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital (1994-1999), where he then served as chief resident. He was a faculty member in plastic surgery at Karadeniz Technical University in Trabzon for over two decades (2001-2023) and at İzmir Bakırçay University (2023-2024) before joining Memorial Ankara in 2024. He performs rhinoplasty, breast reduction and...
Dr. Adham Mansour is a specialist plastic surgeon at Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital, Dubai Healthcare City. He trained as a specialist in plastic surgery and laser in France and is director of the Syrian Center for Plastic Surgery and Laser in Damascus. He is a member of IPRAS and the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. His work covers laser liposuction and fat transfer, breast surgery, tummy tucks, facial rejuvenation, rhinoplasty and hair transplants.
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Excision is the main treatment for many skin cancers and aims to remove the tumour completely. Reconstruction then covers the wound and preserves function and appearance as far as possible.
People with a confirmed or strongly suspected skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma, after examination or biopsy. The treating team decides the plan according to the tumour type and stage, and some types, such as melanoma, may need further tests or treatment.
Your doctor will review the biopsy result, your health history and medicines, and may request imaging or blood tests. Never stop a prescribed drug on your own, especially blood thinners, because the doctor decides. Stopping smoking is advised to improve healing.
The surgeon marks the lesion and a margin of healthy skin, removes it and sends it for microscopic examination. The wound is then closed directly, with a flap of nearby skin or with a skin graft, depending on its size and location.
Some pain and swelling are possible, and the wound is covered with dressings changed as instructed. Stitches are removed after one to two weeks, and the scar should be protected from the sun and from strain.
The scar matures gradually and settles over six months to a year. Control of the disease depends on the tumour type and stage, so regular check-ups are needed for years.
Risks include bleeding, infection, poor wound healing, loss of a graft or flap, altered sensation and a distorted scar. The laboratory may show that the margin is not clear enough, requiring further surgery, and the cancer can return or spread, or a new one can appear.
Yes, a scar is unavoidable, and the surgeon tries to place it within natural creases. Its appearance depends on the site, wound size and type of reconstruction, and later scar treatment may sometimes be needed.
This depends on the size of the surgery, the reconstruction and the laboratory result, and doctors often advise waiting at least one to two weeks. Your treating doctor confirms the timing after checking the wound.
Skin cancer can return at the same site or appear elsewhere, so the skin is checked regularly. Protecting the skin from the sun, checking your own skin and seeing a doctor about any change are advised.
