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Excision

Local excision is where the abnormal mole or area of skin is removed (‘excised’) and sent to a laboratory for testing. It is a relatively simple operation performed under local anaesthetic, and it is an essential step in making the diagnosis of melanoma.

The laboratory analysis typically takes around two weeks, so there is usually a short wait after the procedure before your diagnosis is known. This can be an anxious time — please remember our melanoma support team is here if you need someone to talk to. 💛

What is an excision biopsy?

An excision biopsy is the removal of the whole suspicious mole or area of skin, along with a small border of normal-looking skin around it. Removing the entire lesion — rather than just a small sample — allows the laboratory to examine it fully and confirm whether melanoma is present, and if so, how deep it is. This information is important, as it helps your medical team decide what happens next.

You can read more about how skin samples are taken and tested in our guide to the melanoma skin biopsy.

What happens during the procedure

An excision is usually a quick, straightforward operation carried out as a day case, meaning you can normally go home the same day. Here is what to expect:

  • Local anaesthetic: the area is numbed with an injection so you won’t feel pain during the procedure, although you may feel some pressure or movement.
  • Removing the lesion: the surgeon removes the mole or area of skin, together with a small margin of surrounding skin.
  • Closing the wound: the area is usually closed with stitches. These may be dissolvable, or the kind that need removing later. Larger areas may occasionally need a different type of closure.
  • Dressing: a dressing is applied to protect the wound while it heals.

The whole appointment is often over within an hour, though this varies depending on the size and position of the area being removed.

Getting your results

Once removed, the tissue is sent to a laboratory where a specialist examines it under a microscope. This analysis usually takes around two weeks. Your consultant or clinical nurse specialist will then explain what the results mean for you and talk through any next steps.

Waiting for results can feel difficult, and it’s completely natural to feel anxious during this time. If you’re finding the wait hard, don’t hesitate to reach out — both to your healthcare team and to our support community.

Recovery and aftercare

Most people recover quickly after a local excision, but it’s worth taking a little care while the wound heals:

  • Keep the wound clean and dry, and follow any specific instructions your team gives you about the dressing.
  • You may feel some soreness or tightness around the area at first. This usually eases as it heals.
  • Try to avoid stretching or putting pressure on the area, particularly if the excision is somewhere that moves a lot, such as near a joint.
  • If you have removable stitches, these are usually taken out around 5–14 days after the procedure, depending on where on the body the excision was.
  • Watch for signs of infection — increasing redness, swelling, warmth, or discharge — and contact your team if you’re concerned.

The area will heal into a scar, which will be more noticeable at first and should gradually fade over time. Your hospital team can tell you more about what to expect for your particular procedure.

What happens if melanoma is confirmed?

If the results confirm melanoma, a further operation called a wide local excision is often recommended. This removes a larger area of skin around where the melanoma was, to reduce the chance of any cells being left behind. You can read about this, along with sentinel lymph node biopsy and skin grafts, on our melanoma surgery page.

The treatment recommended for you will also depend on the stage of your melanoma — our guide to melanoma treatment by stage explains what each stage means and the options usually considered.

You’re not facing this alone

From the moment you’re referred for a biopsy through to your results and beyond, it’s normal to have questions and worries. Whatever stage you’re at, our support team and community are here to help — and you can read real patient stories from others who’ve been through the same experience. 💛

Available Treatments

Treatment By Stage

The treatment your team recommends depends heavily on the stage of your melanoma, from stage 0 through to stage 4. Our stage-by-stage guide explains what each one means and the options usually considered at each.
Treatment By Stage

Targeted Therapies

Targeted therapies work on specific genetic changes inside melanoma cells — most commonly in a gene called BRAF — which is why you may be offered a BRAF test. They're an option for people whose melanoma carries these changes.
Targeted Therapies

Surgery for Melanoma

For most people with melanoma, surgery is the first and main treatment — and often the only one needed when the melanoma is found early. It involves removing the melanoma along with a margin of surrounding skin, and sometimes checking nearby lymph nodes.
Surgery for Melanoma
Stage IV Melanoma Treatment Options Decision Guide

Stage IV Melanoma Guide

This booklet is for anyone diagnosed with — or being evaluated for — stage 4 melanoma, the most advanced stage, where the melanoma has spread beyond where it started. It's designed to help you understand and weigh up your treatment options.
Stage IV Melanoma Guide
Second opinion from DR or Melanoma

Second Opinion

It's completely normal to want reassurance about your diagnosis or treatment plan, and you have every right to ask for a second opinion. It won't offend your medical team — it's a recognised part of your care.
Second Opinion
radiotherapy treatment for melanoma

Radiotherapy for Melanoma

Radiotherapy uses carefully targeted radiation to treat melanoma. It isn't used as often as surgery or drug treatments, but it can play a role in certain situations, such as treating melanoma that has spread.
Radiotherapy for Melanoma

Other Therapies

Some less common treatments, such as isolated limb infusion (ILI) and isolated limb perfusion (ILP), may be recommended when melanoma is confined to one area, such as an arm or leg. These deliver treatment directly to the affected limb.
Other Therapies

Learn about BRAF – watch our video

Around half of people diagnosed with melanoma have a change in their cancer cells called a BRAF V600E gene mutation. Watch our short video to understand what BRAF means and why it matters for your treatment options.
Learn about BRAF – watch our video

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy works by helping your own immune system recognise and attack melanoma cells. It's often used for melanoma that has spread or has a higher risk of returning, and several immunotherapy treatments are now available on the NHS.
Immunotherapy
Removal of Melanoma

Excision

Local excision is where the abnormal mole or area of skin is removed and sent to a laboratory for testing. It's a relatively simple operation and is often the first step in diagnosing and treating melanoma.
Excision

Next Steps

Follow up appointments with your GP after Melanoma

FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS

Your follow-up care depends on the stage of the melanoma. Follow-up appointments allow your doctor to monitor for possible recurrence of the melanoma.
FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS
Aftercare advice to follow after Melanoma

MELANOMA AFTER CARE

It’s important to regularly check yourself for any signs of melanoma. As you have already been diagnosed with melanoma, you are at a higher than average risk of having another melanoma in the future.
MELANOMA AFTER CARE

MELANOMA FURTHER TESTS

If the initial biopsy shows melanoma, you may need further tests. Understanding the extent of the melanoma can help your doctor decide the best treatment option for you.
MELANOMA FURTHER TESTS

MELANOMA SKIN BIOPSY

If your doctor does find a suspicious mole, a sample of tissue is removed (a biopsy) for examination under a microscope. The doctor first numbs the skin with an injection of a local anaesthetic
MELANOMA SKIN BIOPSY
Getting diagnosed for Melanoma

GETTING DIAGNOSED WITH MELANOMA

See your doctor if you develop a new mole or notice a change in an existing mole or area of your skin (including under your nail). Even if you’re worried about what this might be, you shouldn’t delay seeing them. It might not be cancer.
GETTING DIAGNOSED WITH MELANOMA