Skin Cancer Surgery

April 2, 2026

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Gaurav Singh, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.M.S., Mohs Micrographic Surgeon and Dermatologist, City of Hope^® Cancer Center Chicago.

Surgery is the most common treatment for all types of skin cancer, including melanoma skin cancers and non-melanoma skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The goal of skin cancer surgery is to completely remove the cancer while preserving as much of the surrounding healthy tissue as possible.

Types of Skin Cancer Surgery

Many different types of surgery are used to treat skin cancer. A patient’s cancer care team helps determine which surgical procedure may be the most effective and appropriate, based on factors including what kind of skin cancer a patient has, what stage it is and his or her overall health.

Mohs Surgery

Mohs surgery, also called Mohs micrographic surgery, is considered the gold standard of treatment for many skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It has the highest cure rate with the smallest possible scarring. During the procedure, a trained Mohs surgeon removes a disk of tissue including the skin cancer lesion and examines that tissue under a microscope. This process is repeated until the tissue that is removed shows no signs of cancer. Then, the wound is sealed.

Wide Local Excision

A wide local excision, sometimes called a standard excision or simple excision, is a common procedure for multiple types of skin cancer. During a wide local incision, a surgeon uses local anesthetic to numb the area surrounding a skin cancer lesion, then removes the lesion and a small amount of the surrounding tissue using a scalpel. The wound is then stitched back together. The scar is larger than for Mohs surgery.

Shave Excision

A shave excision involves numbing the area surrounding a skin cancer lesion and then removing it along with a thin layer of tissue underneath and around the lesion. The wound is usually sealed in a process called cauterization, which uses an electrical current. Shave excision is often used to remove lower-risk skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.

Curettage and Electrodesiccation

In this procedure, a doctor uses a sharp, loop-shaped tool called a curette to scrape away a skin cancer lesion (curettage). Then, an electric needle is applied to the site of the skin cancer to destroy any remaining cancer cells (electrodessication). This may be repeated during one appointment to ensure the cancer is fully removed. Curettage and electrodessication is used for low-risk basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma.

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery involves applying liquid nitrogen to a skin cancer lesion so that it freezes and then falls off after several days. This procedure is performed without anesthetic and tends to be recommended for skin cancer at its earliest stages, when the cancer is only found in the top layer of skin. Some patients may need to undergo the procedure more than once to remove all signs of cancer.

Laser therapy

Laser therapy uses a narrow beam of intense light to target and destroy cancer cells. It may sometimes be used if a patient may not undergo other types of skin cancer surgery or procedure. However, it is still an emerging treatment option for skin cancer lesions.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is the term for procedures that use medical instruments or particles to scrape away and remove the top layer of skin.

Healing After Skin Cancer Surgery

The healing process after skin cancer surgery may vary based on a variety of factors. These include the type of surgery a patient has had, skin cancer location and the size of any incisions. Small surgical incisions may be left to heal on their own, while larger incisions usually require stitches. However, there are several things it is important to bear in mind during recovery, including.

• Following all instructions from the surgeon or dermatologist who performed the procedure to help avoid any complications such as infection or problems with healing
• Keeping skin cancer wounds out of direct sunlight during the healing process
• After a skin cancer wound has healed, using sunscreen whenever this area is exposed to the sun.
• Performing regular self-exams of the skin, including the area where the skin cancer was removed

Skin Graft and Reconstructive Surgery

Although it is less common, some patients may require a skin graft or reconstructive surgery after surgery to remove skin cancer. This may be because patients had a larger skin cancer lesion removed or because their skin cancer was in a sensitive or highly visible area like the face. In these cases, a patient’s cancer care team collaborates with reconstructive surgeons to create a treatment plan that includes removal of the skin cancer and reconstruction.