If the skin growth is large or spreading, a larger area of skin may need to be removed and you may need a skin graft or a skin flap to cover the wound.
Skin grafts and flaps are layers of skin taken from another part of the body and placed over the area where the skin cancer has been removed.
Skin Graft
The surgeon will take a layer of skin from another part of the body (the donor site). The inner thigh is a common place to take the skin from. It’s then put over the area where the cancer has been removed.
A skin graft for the face will usually be taken from behind the ear or the neck area in order to get a good skin colour match.
Skin Flap
A skin flap is a slightly thicker layer of skin which is taken from an area very close to the wound where the cancer has been removed.
The flap is cut away but left partly connected so it still has a blood supply. It’s moved over the wound and stitched in place.
You may also have some stitches around the donor site.
Please note that all patients are required to sign a consent form before a surgical procedure is performed.