This service offers minor surgical procedures for patients with symptomatic benign skin lesions, excluding suspected cancers such as BCC, SCC, and Melanoma, which should be referred under the dermatology pathway. The patient's own GP will handle follow-up care, such as suture removal, after surgery is performed.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

• invasive procedures, including incisions and excisions:
  • lesions that are symptomatic and/or inflamed on more than one occasion at the time of consultations
  • toes with chronic or recurrent in-growing nails or nail deformity requiring surgical removal of part or all of the nail, along with nail bed ablation, where appropriate
• aspirations for diagnostic or therapeutic indications (e.g. ganglion)
• while referrals for injections are accepted (muscles, tendons, joints), the preferred route is via MSK.

Exclusions

• cryotherapy will not be offered
• children aged <12 years (12 to 18-year-olds will be assessed individually)
• lesions more than 7cm in size 
• suspected melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma (follow 2WW referral pathway)
• basal cell carcinoma and keratoacanthoma (refer routinely or via 2WW if rapidly enlarging)
• removal of clinically benign moles on cosmetic grounds 
• treatment of skin lesions that require using cryotherapy, curettage or cautery
• removal of sutures
• labia lesions (please refer to gynaecology)
• keloid scars.

EXCEPTIONAL

• lesions on the eye lids or eye folds may be better suited for secondary care ophthalmology depending on proximity (please include a photo or diagram).

How to Refer