Conventional surgery is the term used for surgery that does not use the Mohs technique, and is generally the most used method of removing a basal cell carcinoma.

How is surgery for BCC performed?

Conventional surgery for basal cell carcinoma is occasionally performed under general anaesthetic (ie with you asleep) but usually is under local anaesthetic (ie the skin is made numb with you awake).

The surgeon then removes the basal cell carcinoma, with a margin of normal-looking skin around it (usually 3-4mm from the growth). This is in case the basal cell carcinoma has fine roots that cannot be seen by eye.

The wound is then closed or reconstructed, and the basal cell carcinoma is sent to the laboratory. The surgeon will usually see you a few weeks after surgery to check your wound and give the results of the laboratory test.

How successful is surgery for Basal Cell Carcinoma?

The 5 year cure rate for basal cell carcinoma after conventional surgery is around 90-95%. This means that, in 5-10% of cases, the basal cell carcinoma grows back in the area it once was.

Also, in up to 5-10% of cases, the laboratory finds that the basal cell carcinoma has not been fully removed. In this instance, further surgery may be needed, which may be Mohs surgery, or other treatment such as radiotherapy.

For this reason, for a number of basal cell carcinomas, Mohs surgery is seen as the ‘gold standard’ treatment with a higher cure rate of 99%.

For more information, please see our sister site mohs-surgeon.co.uk

This information is provided for general knowledge only and does not replace information provided by healthcare professionals. If you have any concerns of any skin growth, you should consult a medical professional urgently. Please also read our disclaimer.