What are the potential risks with dermatology surgery?
Please talk to your dermatologist before any procedure so you know what to reasonably expect as well as how to care for the surgical site afterwards.
Potential risks include:
- Allergic reactions to anesthesia, antibiotics, or bandages.
- Bleeding from the surgical site.
- Bruising at and around the surgical site.
- Scar formation will occur, and on rare occasions, unsightly or thickened scars (keloid, hypertrophic or pink/red scars) can form.
- Wound infection.
- Ulceration, necrosis, or dehiscence (separation of the edges of the sutured wound).
- Postoperative discomfort or pain.
- Skin color changes (lightening or darkening), which may be permanent.
- Recurrence (regrowth) of the lesion at the surgical location or elsewhere in the body.
- Loss of or decreased sensation (feeling), which may be permanent.
- In rare instances loss of movement around the surgical site which may be permanent.
