Your consultation will involve a full assessment and detailed discussion with a qualified doctor specialising in skin and skin surgery.  A full medical history will be taken and treatment options will be discussed. For any treatment you decide to have, consent will be obtained ensuring that you have a full understanding of the procedure.

On the day of your skin surgery, you can eat and drink as normal. All minor skin surgery procedures we perform, are under local anaesthetic.  Most procedures take up to 30 minutes to complete.

Following treatment, all patients receive verbal and written after care advice and are offered a review appointment.

For most minor surgery procedures, we recommend that the lesion removed is sent for histological examination. This involves the lesion being sent to a histopathologist who will examine the lesion in detail under a microscope to give you an accurate diagnosis. The results of this investigation will be shared with you when you attend your review appointment.

Skin tags are small flesh-coloured or brown growths that hang off the skin and look a bit like warts. Skin tags are harmless and very common; usually a few millimetres in size, although can be as big as 5cm.

Skin tags are usually found on the neck, in the armpits, around the groin, or under the breasts. They can also grow on the eyelids or under the folds of the buttocks.

You may want to consider getting them removed if they are unsightly and affect your self-esteem, or if they snag on clothing or jewellery and bleed.

Most skin tags can be removed with a technique called snip excision and cautery.

Seborrhoeic warts are also known as seborrhoeic keratoses. They usually look like greasy or crusty spots which seem to be stuck on to the skin. The colour varies but usually they are darkish brown or black.

Seborrhoeic warts are usually round although they can also be oval in shape and some have an irregular shape. Their size can vary from around one centimetre to several centimetres in diameter.

Seborrhoeic warts tend first to appear around the age of 40 and it is common to develop seborrhoeic warts as you become older. The cause of seborrhoeic warts is unknown but they can sometimes run in families.

If they do not cause any problems then it is best that they be left alone. Without treatment, seborrhoeic warts usually continue to grow and can become darker and more crusty. If required, they can be removed quite easily. Seborrheic keratoses are usually removed surgically because they itch, interfere with clothing or jewellery or it is felt that they are unsightly.

Most seborrhoeic warts can be removed with a technique called shave excision and cautery.

Most cysts present as a painless skin lump. The sites most commonly affected are the face, the back, the neck and the scalp. They may have a discharge and if they become infected, they can become red, inflamed and painful.

At ESS Clinic, we aim to remove all cysts using techniques that minimise visible scarring. Most cysts can be removed though a small incision (hole)  which normally only requires one or two stitches.  This has far reaching benefits.  Not only is the scar much smaller, but also the risk of infection is reduced and wound healing is quicker.

We advise that cysts are not removed when they are infected as this can result in a wound infection. It is advisable to have them removed at least four weeks following any infection.

Most moles are completely harmless. However, they may be unsightly and affect your confidence. Moles can also be a nuisance, for example if they regularly catch on your clothing or if you cut them while shaving.

Depending on the site and size of the mole they can be removed either by shaving the mole close to the surface of the skin (shave excision and cautery) or removing them completely (excision).

A dermatofibroma is a common overgrowth of the fibrous tissue situated in the dermis (the deeper of the two main layers of the skin). It is quite harmless and will not turn into a cancer. Dermatofibromas often appear after a minor injury to the skin, such as a prick from a thorn or an insect bite. They are firm bumps that feel like small rubbery buttons lying just under the surface of the skin.

Usually there are no symptoms but some people may be concerned about how they look. Occasionally they itch or hurt when touched or knocked. If they are on the legs, shaving the skin over them can cause bleeding.

Removal of dermatofibromas may be worthwhile if the dermatofibroma is unsightly or it is a nuisance and causing symptoms such as itching or pain. You will be left with a small scar following removal.