Skin Cancer Surgical Procedures

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are the two most common types of skin cancer. While BCCs tend to grow locally, SCC's can spread to other parts of the body ('metastasise'). Surgery aims to totally remove the cancer and then reconstruct the remaining defect using local tissues (flaps) or skin from somewhere nearby (skin grafts). In some cases additional surgery such as removal of lymph nodes or post-operative radiotherapy may be required. Specialist Plastic Surgeons are trained extensively in skin cancer surgery, especially in complex areas such as the ear, nose, eyelids and mouth

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Melanoma is a common and serious skin malignancy which often requires large margins for excision. Mr. Bunker is also trained in Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (testing the first draining lymph node for spread of cancer cells) which is recommended for some melanomas. Extensive training in reconstruction means Plastic Surgeons are equipped to deal with the resulting defects from Melanoma resection.