Has anyone here ever had a BCC removed from their face? Much of a scar?

[margomeoz]

I have one and can't decide if I should have a plastic surgeon do it or just the skin specialist.

I am not complaining because anything that happens to me from here on in I have well and truly earn't but I am scared because

I have never had anything go wrong before.

[dskracing]

I am having one removed on the 4th April...My dermatologist recommended the plastic surgeon as there is far less scarring

[margomeoz]

Is yours on the face DSK and do they do this in a surgery or do you have to go to hospital?

Thats what I don't want to do.

If it was anywhere but my face I would not even care.

[polksaladallie]

It depends on where it is, on whether it is just below the surface, or deeper.   If it is near your nose or eyes etc, it requires a plastic surgeon.  If is is say on your cheek near your ear, and is very "shallow", the dermatologist can easily do it.

If there is a day hospital where the surgeon works, and it is a relatively simple excision, you will have a local anaesthetic, and can drive home yourself.  If it is more complicated, you will have a twilight anaesthetic, and go home (with someone) the same day.  If it is more serious, a GA in a hospital will be required.

Nothing will go wrong, and the scars will be small, unless it is a big job.  Better than the alternative.

[punch*drunk]

I had one removed from my neck and it did leave quite a scar. Not overly noticable to people unless I point it out, but its about in inch or more long.

My son has a cyst over his cheekbone and so far I havent found a doctor prepared to remove it, they all want to refer him to a plastic surgeon to minimise scarring.

[polksaladallie]

If you are in Brisbane, I can give you the name of the BEST surgeon.

[margomeoz]

No I am in Sydney the guy I have seen so far has been in business for 26 years and is a dermatologist his main interest being skin cancer.

He said there would be a small scar but my wrinkles would hide it but when he looked he saw I had no wrinkles,

I asked if there was some other way to not get a scar and he said a plastic surgeon.

It is right in the centre of my cheek under my cheekbone, I just thought it was a pimple and I picked it now I am in this mess.

[polksaladallie]

You will have a scar, whoever does it.  I would have the plastic surgeon do it.  A good surgeon will do a good job.  If it is encapsulated and not deep, it will be a small scar.  If it is deeper, the scar will be a bit bigger, but it doesn't matter.  It has to be done,  I have had two BCC and one SCC removed from my face. They were done early, and I do not care about the scars.  I have seen many people who have ignored these lesions with disastrous results.

Has the dermatologist done a biopsy to confirm what it is?  I suppose that is a silly question.

[siggie-reported-by-alarmists]

I let my GP remove one from my face under my eye with bit of local..... Zero scar, and I am very lucky. (Great doctor).

Regardless of who removes it, post op care is the key. Whatever you do, do not let it get infected, then it will leave a scar.

[polksaladallie]

A tip for you.  While you are recovering, sleep propped up, and don't bend down so that you head is lower than your chest.  I know someone who was not told this by the surgeon or the nurses, and she had a terrible head and face ache for days.