Recovery guide · Skin cancer surgery
Recovery after skin
cancer excision
Most skin cancer excisions are straightforward day procedures. This guide covers what to expect after removal of a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), wound care, warning signs, scar care, sun protection, and follow-up.
🚫 This guide is for people who have already had surgery. It does not help assess whether a lesion is cancerous. If you are concerned about an undiagnosed skin lesion, please see your GP. For questions about your results or treatment plan, contact your dermatologist or surgeon.
Recovery essentials
Little things that make a real difference: the kind of practical help other patients wish someone had mentioned.
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Start once the excision wound is fully closed, typically 3 to 6 weeks. Sun protection is equally important: the scar needs to be shielded from UV for at least 12 months. Silicone scar sheets →
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Keeps the wound dry while showering: wash normally without worrying. Waterproof wound protectors →
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UV protection of the excision scar is essential for at least 12 months. SPF sleeves are practical for arm and leg sites where sunscreen rubs off or can't be applied easily over a healing scar. UV protective clothing / SPF sleeves →
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SPF 50+ scar-specific sunscreen: as per Cancer Council guidance, new scars darken permanently with UV. Protect for 12+ months. Scar sunscreen →
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Silicone scar sheets: as per published guidance, the most evidence-based treatment for scar reduction. Start once wound fully closed. Scar sheets →
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Wide-brim hat: if the excision is on the face, ears, or scalp. Shade protects healing skin better than sunscreen alone. Sun hats →
Postopcare.info may earn a small commission from Amazon at no cost to you. These are things patients have told us genuinely helped their recovery: nothing else.
What to expect after excision
- Local anaesthetic wears off in 2–4 hours. Take pain relief before it does. Paracetamol alone is usually sufficient for most skin excisions. Source: NHS skin cancer treatment
- Dressing stays on for 24–48 hours unless told otherwise. Keep it dry. Do not remove the dressing early to inspect the wound, the wound needs a protected environment to begin healing. Source: healthdirect wound care
- Some ooze on the dressing is normal. A small amount of pink or blood-stained fluid in the first 24 hours is expected. Saturated dressings or heavy bleeding require attention. Source: PMID 32809368: wound infection diagnosis (Br J Surg 2020)
- Swelling and bruising are common, especially on the face. Most facial swelling peaks at 48–72 hours and then reduces. Elevation helps (sleep with an extra pillow for face/scalp wounds). Source: PMID 41914093: facial BCC surgical outcomes (MMJ 2026)
- Sutures are typically removed at 7–14 days depending on location. Face: 5–7 days. Body: 10–14 days. Scalp: 10–14 days. Your surgeon will advise. Source: NHS
- If a skin graft was used to close the wound, recovery is longer and specific donor site care will be needed. Follow your surgeon’s graft-specific instructions. Source: PMID 41914093
Day by day
Day of surgery
Rest at home. Keep dressing dry and intact. Take pain relief before the local anaesthetic wears off. Avoid bending, straining, or exercise that could increase blood flow to the wound area and cause bleeding.
Days 1–3
Your surgeon may have given you instructions for the first dressing change. Keep the wound moist (if instructed) or dry as directed. Avoid the sun completely; do not go outdoors without covering the wound. Avoid alcohol, which dilates blood vessels and increases bleeding risk.
Days 4–7
Wound should be progressing to a scab or clean healing line. Pain and swelling reducing. Sutures intact. Light daily activities are fine: avoid strenuous exercise until sutures are removed. If on the face or scalp, avoid heavy lifting and anything that raises blood pressure significantly.
Days 7–14
Suture removal (timing varies by location). After sutures are out, the wound continues to strengthen for weeks. Begin scar massage and silicone gel once the wound is completely healed and all sutures are removed. See scar healing guide.
Weeks 3–12
Scar active remodelling phase. The scar may look red, raised, or purple; this is normal. Daily scar massage, silicone gel, and strict sun protection all improve the final result. Source: NHS scars
Month 3+
Scar fading and softening continues for 12–18 months. Follow-up with your dermatologist or surgeon for pathology results review and surveillance planning. Source: Cancer Council Australia
Is my wound healing normally?
✓ Normal
- Redness directly at wound edges
- Bruising and swelling (especially face)
- Pink or blood-stained ooze on dressing (first 24h)
- Itching as the wound heals
- Scar hardening and redness (weeks 2–12)
- Numbness around the scar
⚠ Contact your team if
- Redness spreading beyond the wound
- Yellow or green discharge
- Wound opening or edges separating
- Smell from the wound
- Temperature 38°C or above with wound changes
- Heavy bleeding that won’t stop
Use the interactive wound check tool for a step-by-step assessment, or the wound photo journal to track healing day by day.
Sun protection: non-negotiable
- Never expose a healing scar to direct sunlight. UV radiation causes permanent pigmentation (darkening) of healing tissue. Cover the wound with clothing or SPF50+ for at least 12 months. Source: healthdirect scar treatment
- SPF50+ broad-spectrum sunscreen on all exposed skin, every day, regardless of cloud cover. In Australia, UV is significant even on overcast days. Source: Cancer Council Australia: sunscreen guidance
- Having had one skin cancer significantly increases risk of another. Published data from Cancer Council Australia indicates that people with a history of BCC or SCC have elevated lifetime risk of subsequent lesions. Ongoing annual skin checks with your dermatologist are recommended. Source: Cancer Council Australia
- Protect the whole body, not just the surgical site. The factors that caused one lesion are present across your skin. Source: NHS skin cancer causes
Results and follow-up
- Pathology results typically take 1–2 weeks. The report confirms the cancer type, grade, and whether margins are clear. A “clear margin” means no cancer cells were found at the edge of the removed tissue. Source: NHS skin cancer diagnosis
- If margins are involved (cancer cells at the edge), further surgery or treatment may be recommended. This is not unusual and does not mean the surgery failed. Source: NICE NG12
- Annual skin checks are recommended for anyone with a history of skin cancer. See your GP or dermatologist for ongoing surveillance. Source: Cancer Council Australia: follow-up after treatment
- Questions about your results? Contact your dermatologist or visit askmygp.com.au to prepare questions for your next appointment.
Sources for this page
Frequently asked questions
Sources: Cancer Council Australia · NHS
Pathology results typically take 1–2 weeks. The report will state whether the margins are clear (no cancer cells at the edge), involved (cancer cells present at the margin), or close. Your surgeon or dermatologist will contact you with results and advise on next steps if further treatment is needed. Source: NHS skin cancer diagnosis
Yes: having had one BCC or SCC increases the risk of further lesions. The factors that caused the first lesion (UV exposure, fair skin, history of sunburn) affect your skin broadly. Annual skin surveillance with a dermatologist or GP with skin cancer training is recommended. Source: Cancer Council Australia
Most people return to desk work within 1–2 days. Physical work that involves bending, lifting, or straining should be avoided for 1–2 weeks until sutures are removed and the wound has stabilised. Work outdoors requires complete sun protection of the wound area. Source: healthdirect
Red, raised, or purple scars are completely normal during the remodelling phase (weeks 3–12). New blood vessels in the healing tissue cause the redness. The scar fades to pink, then to silver or skin-tone over 12–18 months. Strict sun protection prevents permanent darkening. See the scar healing guide for full detail on each stage. Source: NHS scars
⚠️ Seek immediate help if
- Heavy bleeding that won’t stop with firm pressure for 10 minutes
- Wound opening or edges separating after sutures removed
- Signs of infection: spreading redness, warmth, thick discharge, smell
- Temperature 38°C or above with wound changes
📞 GP or urgent care — Emergency: 000 (AU) · 999 (UK)
Source: PMID 32809368: wound infection diagnosis (Br J Surg 2020)
You might also find these helpful
Guide
Hidradenitis Suppurativa Surgery
Wound care recovery guide
Tool
Pain Tracker
Log daily pain and spot worsening trends
Tool
Wound Check
Is your wound healing normally?
Tool
DVT Risk Checker
Check your blood clot risk after surgery
Related
Mohs Surgery →
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Network
CarerCompass ↗
Support for carers and family members
Network
Helplines ↗
Emotional support and crisis helplines
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Before you forget
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Contact your pharmacy before surgery
Ask them to prepare your post-op medications so they're ready for collection on discharge day.
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Pause gym and fitness memberships
You may not be able to exercise for weeks. Pause now to avoid paying.
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Set up online grocery delivery
You may not be able to drive or carry bags for weeks.
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Download entertainment
Recovery involves a lot of resting. Podcasts, audiobooks, and shows help.
These are practical reminders, not medical advice. Your surgical team’s instructions always come first.
Track your wound healing
Take a photo of your wound each day. The ghost overlay lines up your previous photo so you can spot changes. Drag the reveal slider to compare before and after. Bring the photos to your next appointment. If something looks off, try our wound symptom checker.
100% private. Photos stay on your device. Nothing uploaded.
📷 Open wound photo journal →Related guides
Cosmetic Skin Surgery Recovery →
Your recovery toolkit
Free interactive tools to track your recovery day by day. Everything stays on your device — nothing is uploaded or shared.
Daily dashboardMeds, vitals & wound photos in one view
Discharge packTurn discharge notes into a day-one plan
Last-dose tracker“When can I take the next one?”
Vitals trackerTemperature, heart rate, BP & oxygen
Wound photo journalSame angle every day — spot changes early
Pain trackerSpot the trend, share it with your GP
These tools support — never replace — the advice of your surgical team. If something feels wrong, contact your doctor or emergency services.
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Content last reviewed: July 2026
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Postopcare.info is free recovery information compiled from published clinical guidelines (NHS, NICE, healthdirect Australia, AAOS and others). Some pages include affiliate product links: these never influence clinical content.
This is general information, not medical advice. It cannot replace what your own doctor, surgeon, or hospital team tells you.
⚠ In an emergency, call your local emergency number: 000 (Australia) · 111 (New Zealand) · 999 (UK, Ireland & Singapore) · 911 (USA & Canada) · 112 (European Union & India) · or your country's equivalent. On most mobile networks worldwide, 112 also works as a backup even without a SIM card or when the phone is locked.
If anything on this site contradicts what your treating team has told you, follow them: not us.
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