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Surgery for skin cancer

Surgery for larger skin cancers

There are different types of surgery for larger skin cancers or cancer that has spread. Find out about having surgery for larger skin cancers, including about types of surgery, how to prepare and possible side effects after surgery.

Types of surgery for larger skin cancers

Find out about the different types of surgery for larger skin cancers or cancer that has spread.

Before your skin cancer surgery

You usually have your skin cancer operation as a day patient with local anaesthetic. But for larger operations, you might have a general anaesthetic and be asleep for the operation.

On the day of your skin cancer surgery

You usually have surgery under a local anaesthetic. But you might have a a general anaesthetic if you need to have a larger operation.

After skin cancer surgery

Your recovery time will depend on the type of surgery you had. You might have surgery as a day patient or spend a night in hospital if you had a larger operation.

Last reviewed: 08 Feb 2023

Next review due: 08 Oct 2026

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