“Will it hurt?” is usually the first question, and “how long will it take?” is usually the second. We understand why. For most patients, having a lump, cyst or lesion removed is not something that happens often, so it’s entirely natural to walk in not quite knowing what to expect. Over the years we’ve found that most of the anxiety around minor surgery has very little to do with the procedure itself and almost everything to do with the unknown. So this blog is simply a walk through what actually happens, step by step, from booking to healing.
Minor Surgery at Health & Aesthetics
Before The Appointment
Every minor surgery appointment starts with a proper consultation, not a rushed five minutes on the day itself. We’ll examine whatever needs removing, whether that’s a cyst, a mole, a skin tag or another lesion, and talk through why it’s there, what removing it involves, and what the likely outcome will be, including scarring. This is also when we go through your medical history, any medications you’re taking, particularly blood thinners, and any allergies, because these details genuinely change how we plan the procedure.
We’ll also be honest with you about whether surgery is actually the right option. Not everything that walks through our door needs to come off, and we’d rather tell you that plainly than book you in for something unnecessary. If we do proceed, we’ll explain exactly what the procedure will involve so there are no surprises on the day, and you’ll have every opportunity to ask questions before you commit to anything.
Local Anaesthetic
This is the part that worries people most, so let’s deal with it directly. Almost all minor surgery in clinic is done under local anaesthetic, meaning the area around the lesion is numbed while you stay fully awake and alert throughout. The injection itself gives a brief sting, similar to a sharp pinch, and for a few seconds afterwards you might feel a stinging or burning sensation as the anaesthetic takes effect. That’s genuinely the worst part. Within a minute or two the area is completely numb, and from that point on you shouldn’t feel pain at all, though you may notice pressure or movement, which is entirely normal and not a sign that the anaesthetic hasn’t worked.
We use a fine needle and take our time with this step precisely because getting it right makes everything that follows far more comfortable. If at any point during the procedure you feel anything more than pressure, tell us straight away and we’ll top up the anaesthetic before continuing.
The Procedure
Once the area is numb, the removal itself is often the quickest part of the whole appointment. Depending on what’s being removed, this might involve a simple excision, where the lesion is cut away along with a small margin of surrounding tissue, or a shave or punch technique for smaller or more superficial lesions. We work under sterile conditions throughout, and most procedures take somewhere between fifteen and forty minutes, though this varies depending on the size and location of what’s being removed.
You’ll be able to chat with us throughout, and honestly, most patients tell us afterwards it was far less dramatic than they’d imagined. Depending on the size and depth of the wound, we may close it with stitches, which are either dissolvable or need to be removed after a week or two, or occasionally leave it to heal on its own with a simple dressing.
Histology
Once removed, the tissue doesn’t just get discarded. It’s placed straight into a preservative solution and sent to a laboratory, where a pathologist examines it under a microscope. This tells us definitively what the lesion was, whether it was entirely benign, and whether it’s been fully removed with clear margins. We send every single lesion for histology as standard, without exception, because clinical judgement, however experienced, is never a substitute for actually looking at the cells. Results typically take one to two weeks, and we’ll always contact you personally once they’re back, rather than leaving you to chase us for news.
Aftercare
Before you leave, we’ll go through exactly how to look after the wound, and we’ll give you written instructions too, because it’s easy to forget details once you’re home. Generally this means keeping the area clean and dry for the first day or so, then gently washing it as instructed, applying any dressing changes we’ve recommended, and watching for signs of infection such as increasing redness, swelling, warmth or discharge. If you’ve had stitches that need removing, we’ll book that appointment before you leave so it’s one less thing to think about.
Recovery
Recovery time depends enormously on what’s been removed and where, but most patients are back to normal daily activities within a day or two. The area itself typically takes one to two weeks to heal on the surface, though the deeper healing and final scar settling can continue for several months. We’d always advise avoiding strenuous exercise, swimming and direct sun exposure on the area while it heals, and if the lesion was on your face or somewhere visible, we’ll talk you through scar care to give you the best possible cosmetic result.
Common Questions
Patients ask us a similar handful of questions every week, so it’s worth answering them here too. Will there be a scar? Almost always, though how noticeable it is depends on the size, location and how well you follow aftercare advice, and we do everything we can to minimise it. Can I drive home afterwards? In most cases yes, since local anaesthetic doesn’t affect your ability to drive, though this depends on the location and extent of the procedure. Will I need time off work? Usually not, though it depends on your job and where the lesion was. What if the histology results show something unexpected? We’ll discuss the findings with you in detail and arrange whatever follow up or referral is needed, calmly and without delay.
If you’re due to have a lesion removed and would like to talk through what to expect for your particular situation, do get in touch with the clinic. We’d far rather answer your questions in advance than have you sit at home worrying about something we could have explained in five minutes.
