The length of a procedure is different for each case. Ask your surgeon for a more accurate answer.
Yes. If melanoma and squamous cell carcinomas spread to other parts of your body, they can be fatal. Basal cell carcinoma is rarely fatal, but if left untreated it can grow in size and become severely disfiguring. It can also affect nerves and lead to poorer functioning eyes, lips, cheeks, and other areas on the body. Basal cell carcinoma does have a real potential to lead to death.
You may postpone your surgery, but we do not recommend it.
If your lesion is cancerous, postponing your surgery may lead to the growth and spread of your lesion, which may further complicate reconstruction and recovery. If melanoma and squamous cell carcinomas spread to other parts of your body, they can be fatal. It is also imperative for you to be on time for your procedure to ensure you undergo the surgery as scheduled.
If you leave melanoma and squamous cell carcinomas untreated, they can rapidly spread to other parts of the body. They can also lead to death.
Basal cell carcinomas do not spread to other parts of the body in most cases, but their growth continues. Basal cell carcinomas also have the potential to grow down to a nerve and spread.
Typically, the longer you leave these cancers untreated, the larger and more disfiguring they become.
Although this varies on a case-by-case basis, we avoid operating on multiple conditions per person on the same day. This is to help ease the recovery process, and also to ensure that the total dosage of local anesthesia doesn’t exceed the daily recommended limit.
Yes. Eating before your surgery is encouraged as it would curb the chances of “light-headedness” or “jittery” feelings occurring prior to and through your surgery.
Unless instructed, you do not need to stop taking medications before your surgery. If in doubt, call the TMSC office well in advance of your surgery.
Unless instructed, you do not need to stop taking medications before your surgery. If in doubt, call the TMSC office well in advance of your surgery.
Unless the surgery was on or near your eyes or on your hands, you may drive home by yourself after the surgery is complete. There is a possibility that your automobile insurance policies may not be in effect during your recovery time; if in doubt, contact your insurance broker for clarification.
A completely scarless surgery is a myth. Any cuts, scrapes, or incisions made during surgery do leave scars. However, our board certified surgeons understand and empathize with our patients’ inclination to want little to no scars, and are extremely digilent about practicing the best techniques to minimize scarring as much as possible. We also use scar management gels after surgery. Ask our surgeons about the “tiny scar” cyst and lipoma surgeries performed at TMSC.
How a scar looks after healing varies on a case-by-case basis. Our surgeons can control where and how long each incision is, and are fastidious about trying to minimize scarring, but no two people experiencing the exact same procedure will have the exact same healing.
Whether you get stitches or not is determined on a case-by-case basis, and is based on factors such as the condition that is being treated, the depth of skin growth being removed, and more. That being said, most of our cases do have stitches.
No, you will not be put to sleep, as all of the procedures are performed using local anesthesia.
We administer local anesthesia with a tiny needle. Although pain levels vary based on the condition that is being treated, we aim to minimize your pain during the procedure as much as possible.
Each of our patients receives a consultation with one of our board certified plastic surgeons. Your consultation will include a review of your medical history as well as a physical examination of the skin lesion.
No, you do not need a referral for the procedures that are covered by OHIP.
Basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, carpal tunnel syndrome, and trigger fingers.
The Ministry of Health determines which procedures are covered by OHIP and which are not, based on a number of factors. Most benign (noncancerous) skin lesions are not covered as their treatment is considered unessential by the Ministry of Health.
