Understanding the Risks of Minor Skin Surgery

At Dr. Jenny Clinic, we are committed to delivering safe, Plastic Surgeon-led minor skin procedures in a professional environment. While minor skin surgery is generally low risk, it is important that patients are fully informed of both early and long-term risks associated with treatment.

This forms part of your comprehensive pre-operative consent, so that you are fully informed with all aspects of your treatment before proceeding.

The following guide outlines what to expect after your procedure, what is considered a normal part of healing, and when to seek further advice.

Early Risks Following Minor Surgery

1. Reaction to Local Anaesthetic

Local anaesthetic is very safe and well tolerated, but mild side effects can include:

• Brief palpitations or fast heart rate (tachycardia)

• Tingling sensations around the lips or fingertips

• Faintness or light-headedness

Severe reactions are extremely rare, but may cause confusion, breathing difficulty, or convulsions.

It is important to let your doctor know if you have had any adverse reactions to local anaesthesia in the past so we can treat you as safely as possible.

2. Pain or Discomfort

As the local anaesthetic wears off (usually within 1–2 hours), it is normal to experience mild discomfort for 1–2 days. We recommend taking simple pain relief (such as paracetamol) before the anaesthetic fully wears off, in order to stay comfortable.

3. Swelling and Bruising

Swelling and bruising at the treatment site are often an expected aftermath of surgery. This is especially noticeable in areas of delicate skin like around the eyelids or lips:

• Initial swelling may be due to the anaesthetic fluid and usually subsides within a few hours.

• Thereafter, the wound itself can often swell, and this can persist for 24–48 hours, before it starts to turn the corner.

If however you find that your swelling is worsening over time, rather than improving, this may be a sign of infection: please contact us for an urgent review.

4. Bleeding or Oozing

Light bleeding or spotting from the wound is common, especially within the first 24–48 hours. This can occur regardless of excision method.

To minimise bleeding risk:

• Avoid bending, straining, heavy lifting, intense activity or intense heat during the first few days.

• Apply direct pressure for 15–20 minutes if bleeding presents as a persistent trickle.

If bleeding continues beyond a few days or does not respond to pressure, please contact us for an review.

5. Infection

While rare, infection is the most important risk to watch for. We maintain strict sterile technique during your procedure, but infections can still occur.

Signs of infection may include:

• Increasing pain or swelling

• Worsening redness or heat

• Discharge of pus or cloudy fluid

• Feeling generally unwell or feverish

Please contact us urgently if you are concerned about infection. Early recognition and treatment is key.

6. Wound Dehiscence (Opening of Stitches)

Occasionally, stitches may come apart prematurely, before the wound has fully healed. This can occur due to:

• Physical strain or pulling on the wound

• Infection that weakens the surrounding tissue

If you are worried about this happening, please inform us so we can see you for a review. The majority of the time, we would treat the dehisced portion of the wound with dressings while it heals over and strengthens, rather than it needing to be re-stitched.

7. Haematoma or Seroma Formation

Following the removal of larger lesion, or those that grow underneath the skin, such as lipomas or cysts, sometimes blood (haematoma) or tissue fluid (seroma) can collect in the empty cavity where the lesion once was.

This can sometimes feel like a squidgy bump where the lesion once used to sit.

This usually resolves on its own within 2–3 weeks, as your body absorbs the fluid naturally and the cavity beds down. However, if the fluid persists, we may need to drain it with a small needle at your follow-up, to encourage it to flatten.

Delayed Risks Following Minor Skin Surgery

1. Delayed Healing

Delayed healing is usually linked to infection or dehiscence, which can slow down the healing process. If your wound hasn't sealed or is not progressing after a few weeks, please let us know so that we can review you and help support you in your healing.

2. Scarring

The formation of scar is unfortunately one of the essential steps of wound healing following trauma (such as injury or trauma) to the skin.

All surgical wounds will therefore leave some form of scar tissue behind as they heal.

Initially, scars may appear:

• Red

• Raised

• Firmer than the surrounding skin

With time, scars soften, fade and flatten, but final scar maturity can take 12–18 months.

Abnormal scars may develop despite optimal surgical and healing conditions and these can include:

• Atrophic (indented) scars

• Hypertrophic or keloid (thick, raised) scars

• Stretched scars

• Hypersensitive or itchy scars

• Persistently red scars

During the consultation we will discuss scar risk with you (depending on your history, skin-type, lesion type, lesion location, surgical removal method) and advise how you can best support your scar so that is heals in the most favourable way possible.

This will include advice on sun protection, scar massage or scar taping, and if indicated, information on silicone application and scar taping,

Troublesome, symptomatic scars may require future treatments such as steroid injections, microneedling or LASER/IPL.

3. Injury to Deeper Structures

This risk is very low, particularly for superficial lesions. However, if the lesion is deeper (e.g. large lipoma or cyst), there is a small risk of injury to:

• Blood vessels

• Nerves

We will advise you on this risk based on lesion depth and location during your consultation.

4. Recurrence

Some lesions may recur even after complete removal, depending on the lesion type and the surgical technique used.

We will advise you on what the likelihood of this is depending on lesion type and removal method.

Recurrent skin lesions may require further management in the future.

5. Further Surgery or Management

You may require further treatment in cases of:

• Recurrence

• Problematic scars

• Unexpected findings on histology

At Dr. Jenny Clinic, we’re here to support you before, during and after your procedure. If at any stage you're concerned about your wound, pain, healing or scarring, please don’t hesitate to get in touch so that we can provide ongoing guidance and care if any of these situations arise.