Minor Skin Surgery Techniques

At Dr. Jenny Clinic, we offer a range of minor surgical techniques for the safe and effective removal of benign skin lesions.

Every lesion is assessed individually to determine the most appropriate removal method, based on its type, location, depth, and your desired cosmetic outcome. That way you can rest assured knowing that your treatment plan has been tailored to your individual needs and lesions of concern.

Our ethical, Plastic-Surgeon-led approach ensures that we prioritise your safety and optimise your healing and recovery at all times.

 

  • Excision Biopsy (Full-Thickness or Elliptical Excision)

Best for:

  • Flat moles

  • Deep or pigmented lesions

  • Dermatofibromas

  • Cysts or lipomas

  • Any lesion with a suspicious or changing appearance

This method involves surgically removing the entire lesion along with a small margin of surrounding tissue, ensuring complete removal and reducing the risk of recurrence. It is often used when lesions are deeper or need to be examined under a microscope (histology).

The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic and usually requires stitches to close the skin.

Depending on the site and your healing profile, these may be dissolvable or non-dissolvable. If stitches need to be removed, we will arrange a follow-up at 7–14 days.

You’ll be left with a linear scar (classic or straight-line scar), and we will guide you through scar care techniques to help the area heal as smoothly as possible.

✔ Pros:

  • Complete lesion removal

  • Low recurrence risk

  • Suitable for deeper or suspicious lesions

✘ Cons:

  • Requires stitches

  • Linear scar formation

  • Slightly longer healing time

 

Shave Excision, Snip Excision & Curettage

Best for:

  • Raised, non-suspicious moles

  • Skin tags

  • Seborrhoeic keratoses

  • Warts or benign bumps

These techniques remove just the protruding or superficial part of the lesion using a blade, snipping tool, or curette. The area is then cauterised to stop bleeding and encourage the skin to heal.

These are quick, low-downtime treatments that leave behind a superficial wound (similar to a deep scratch) which heals naturally without the need for stitches.

The area forms a small scab, which typically falls off in 7–10 days, revealing fresh pink skin that fades over time.

For moles, it’s important to note that deep pigment or hair may not be completely removed, and there may be some minor recurrence such as mild textural change or faint pigmentation down the line.

 

✔ Pros:

  • Minimal downtime

  • No stitches required

  • Flat, shallow scar that’s easier to conceal

✘ Cons:

  • Slightly higher recurrence risk

  • May not remove all pigment or hair in hairy moles

  • Not suitable for suspicious or deep lesions

 

Punch Biopsy

Best for:

  • Diagnostic sampling of skin lesions

  • Small lesions suitable for full removal with minimal scarring

A punch biopsy uses a small, circular blade to remove a core of tissue, either to sample a larger lesion for diagnosis or to fully excise a small lesion. This technique provides a full-thickness cross-section of the skin, which can be sent for pathology analysis.

Punch wounds are typically 3–5mm wide and may be closed with dissolvable or removable stitch to speed up healing. If used diagnostically, further treatment may be needed depending on the results.

✔ Pros:

  • Excellent for diagnosing uncertain lesions

  • Can completely remove very small skin lesions

  • Minimally invasive

✘ Cons:

  • May require further procedures depending on results

  • Occasionally results are inconclusive

 

It is important to note that all surgical techniques, whether deeper or superficial, still carry the potential for surgical risk and complications.

Click here to learn more about what to look out for during your healing journey.

 

Which Technique Is Right for Me?

During your consultation, we will assess your skin lesion and discuss:

  • The best surgical technique for removal

  • Whether your lesion is suitable for histology

  • The likely healing process and scar outcome

  • Any downtime or follow-up appointments needed

Our priority is to remove the lesion safely while achieving the best possible cosmetic result with minimal risk and clear aftercare guidance.

 

Are there other treatment options besides these surgical techniques?

Certainly! Where non-surgical options are also suitable for your lesion, we will also be discussing these as part of your consultation so that you can be informed of all available options, their pros and cons, before deciding which is best for you.

Some non-surgical options include cryosurgery and electrosurgery.