Scarring – as described above, scarring can be variable and can potentially form hypertrophic or
keloid scars. Occasionally scar improvement techniques can be used
Infection – this is relatively uncommon, but if the area becomes red and sore then antibiotics might
be needed
Bleeding – it is normal to get a little bit of bleeding after skin growth removal, but if there is a lot of
bleeding then you may need to return to have the area checked and any bleeding stopped
Recurrence – even if the skin growth is thought to be completely removed, they can occasionally
return and may need further treatment
Incomplete excision – even though a wide margin may have been taken, occasionally the lab checks
say that the growth is not completely removed. Depending on the type of skin growth further
surgery may be needed
Numbness – the area around the surgery may be numb for a short while, especially for an hour or
two after surgery while the anaesthetic wears off. The numbness can be long-term though,
especially if a larger growth has been removed
Pain – this is usually not too bad after smaller growth removal, and can be dealt with by simple
painkillers. For larger growths, stronger painkillers may be needed
Bruising/swelling – this is usually fairly uncommon, although areas of the face can be prone to
bruising and swelling, especially around the eye. This usually settles after a week or so
Cosmetic appearances – usually the scar will start off being a dark ping colour, but will tend to fade
after a few months to leave a pale scar, although occasionally this redness persists. The surgeon will
usually aim to get a fairly flat scar, but there can be noticeable dips and bumps in the scar. Again
these tend to improve in time but can be long-term