DETAILED SQUAMOUS CELL (SCC) INFORMATION

Please find below detailed information on Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

A. OPERATION/ ANAESTHESIA / RECOVERY AND POST OPERATIVE CARE

1. For small cancers simple elliptical excision. The procedure is a local anaesthetic with or without sedation, a minor procedure, with tape on the wound for 7 days, all sutures internal.
2. For flaps and full thickness skin grafts, performed in hospital under local anaesthetic with sedation, day only or staying overnight, with dressing on wound till 7 days. No sutures to be removed.
3. Split skin grafts performed in hospital under local anaesthesia and sedation, with bed resting for 5 to 6 days while graft takes. Graft and donor site dressings all removed a 2 weeks.

BLOOD THINNING AGENTS

Aspirin ceased at two weeks before surgery. Warfarin / other blood thinning agents – variable management and instructions will be given by Cosmetic Surgery Sydney.

Healing

Thorough healing can take time. The wound graft/or flap may look unsightly at first, but its appearance improves significantly over the next six to nine months.

Possible complications of skin cancer surgery

Complications can occur despite Cosmetic Surgery Sydney’s high standard of practice. The operation and its outcome might not fully meet your expectations.

If you are worried side effects and complications please discuss them with Cosmetic Surgery Sydney.

The following are to inform you, not alarm you:

1. Infection in the wound and graft.
2. Bleeding in the wound/graft.
3. Incomplete excision of the cancer and further excision and/or radiotherapy may be required.
4. Wound breakdown, or re-opening of wound.
5. Loss of skin graft or flap due to variety of factors – bleeding/infection. Further surgery may be necessary.

Scarring

Depends on a variety of factors. The majority of results grafts/flaps/incision lines are quite inconspicuous, flat, soft with patients very happy.

Some people develop thick scars, wide scars, depressed scars and revision may be necessary for improvement.

Cost of Skin Cancer Surgery Cover by Medicare and Funds:

1. Not in a fund – performed in public hospital at no charge.
2. In a fund – performed in a private hospital – no extra gap payment.

Please ring the Manly rooms to discuss costs on 02 9977 1275

B. SURGICAL TREATMENT OF SQUAMOUS CELL CANCER DISEASE

1. Simple excision with primary closure (when there is sufficient loose skin available to close).

Very large SCC disease, result primary closure

because of sufficient loose skin available.

2a. Small SCC right cheek – simple excision with primary closure.

Excisional line.

Tape on incisional line.

2. Excision then closure using local loose skin moved in as flaps.

SCC disease, right cheek 6 month growth.

Excision with flap repair. 6 month result ideal, inconspicuous incisional lines.

3. Excision then closure with a skin graft repair.

SCC disease dorsum of hand, 4 month growth.

Skin graft repair after excision.

SCC disease dorsum right foot, skin graft on leg from previous injury.

SCC disease above right eyebrow with skin graft from

lower right neck for repair of defect.

SCC disease right temple, excision with graft.

Graft repair at two weeks.

Wedge Excision

SCC disease lower lip for wege excision.

Wedge excision for SCC upper lip.

Healed result of wedge excision lower Lip.

Amputation of digit.

After amputation of the digit.