Surgical Excision

Elliptical Excision

At Shellharbour Skin, the Dr Barney Gordon may recommend an elliptical excision, a precise surgical technique used to remove skin lesions and a small margin of surrounding tissue. Dr. Barney Gordon will perform this procedure, ensuring high-quality care and optimal outcomes for patients needing lesion removal because of medical or cosmetic reasons.

What is an Elliptical Excision? 

Elliptical excision is a surgical technique in which a doctor removes a skin lesion by making an ellipse or football-shaped cut that includes some healthy skin around it. This method is a common choice for completely removing moles, cysts, skin cancers, and other skin abnormalities that require examination or are unwanted.

Indications for Elliptical Excision 

This procedure is usually recommended for:

• Removing skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma
• Excising dysplastic nevi (atypical moles) in order to exclude a melanoma
• Removing bothersome benign lesions that cause discomfort or do not respond to other treatments

Procedure Details During an elliptical excision, Dr. Barney Gordon will administer local anaesthesia to numb the area around the lesion. Using precise surgical techniques, he will then cut around and under the lesion in an elliptical shape to ensure complete removal, including a margin of healthy skin. As a precautionary measure, Dr Gordon takes this margin to ensure the removal of all problematic cells, especially in cases of cancerous or potentially cancerous lesions.

What to Expect After the Procedure?

Recovery from an elliptical excision is straightforward. Sutures (stitches) are typically used to close the incision and are removed within one to two weeks, depending on the location of the excision. Dr. Gordon will provide detailed aftercare instructions to help ensure proper healing and to minimize scarring. Pain and discomfort are mild and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relief.

Follow-Up and Support 

After the excision, the removed tissue is sent to a laboratory for histological examination to confirm the diagnosis and ensure that all margins are clear of any problematic cells. Dr. Gordon and the Shellharbour Skin team offer comprehensive support throughout the healing process and will discuss the results with you as soon as they are available.