Surgery for skin cancer
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.
Find out about the different types of surgery for larger skin cancers or cancer that has spread.
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.
You usually have surgery under a local anaesthetic. But you might have a a general anaesthetic if you need to have a larger operation.
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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