Advice for my First Wide Excision

[SaltyBae]

Hey everyone! I had a couple biopsies done a couple weeks ago, they both came back negative for melanoma *phew* but, they are both considered atypical. The one taken with the punch biopsy is all good and I won’t need to do anything with it at the moment, but the one taken with the shave biopsy is more of concern and I’ll need it surgically removed (wide excision). It’s on the back of my left thigh. I’m pretty nervous about it, even though it’s so much less intrusive than my first surgery which involved skin grafts and sentinel node biopsies.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Since I dont really know what to expect with this surgery.

[JohnFC]

Wow, condolences. I've had two wide excisions on my back. First don't rush to heal. The first time I went back to work as soon as possible and I regretted it. Talk to you doctors about "rehab" and getting full motion back. Things will feel tight for quite a while after surgery. I was afraid of ripping something and the discomfort, and actually put my rehab back a few weeks. Get as much information day of surgery before anesthesia and possible. I was given some important instructions post surgery and did not remember because of all the funky drugs they gave me. My surgeon was a "general" surgeon not a plastic surgeon. Ask which you will have , the amount of scarring may be less with a plastic surgeon.

[SaltyBae in reply to JohnFC]

Thanks for that advice JohnFC! It’s going to be done with local anesthetics at my derms office, so it won’t be too extreme (I hope). I’m going to ask a bunch of questions when I go see that same doc (dermatologist) on November 3rd for one of my 3 month full body checks. I’m defintely worried about returning to work, I’m already out of work for lymphedma issues following my last surgery and also going to PT starting next week. I’m a welder by trade so my work is definitely hard on my body compared to some other jobs!

[Bergerrs23]

Hey girl! I’ve had 3 excisions in the past year- 1 for an in Situ and 2 for dysplatic nevi, in addition to the original one a few years ago. I too have them done awake with local, although at the surgeon’s not the Derm for personal preference. The lidocaine they give you will hurt, but after that you will feel some tugging and no pain. I always have someone drive me there and back even though I am awake, more for support. It will hurt after- I usually have it done on a Thursday and go back to work on Monday so I have a few days to rest. First 24 hours with narcotics, then Tylenol alone. The one on my arm was bigger than you should have as it was an in Situ so bigger margins and that hurt more, but the small ones on my leg don’t hurt as much. Good luck!

[SaltyBae in reply to Bergerrs23]

Yikes that sounds pretty painful! Thanks for giving me a heads up about the recovery. Since mine is on the back of my thigh I think I’ll probably see if I can have someone go with me so I don’t have to drive home afterwords.

[Bergerrs23 in reply to SaltyBae]

Yeah that’s a good plan! My surgeons office is 45 minutes away (really more with the traffic) so that’s also why I have someone come. I’m his frequent flier lol.

[Carola01 Ambassador]

I am a stage III survivor 17 years NED. My friend just had a wide excision last month for melanoma and was surprised how big the incision ended up being. She was pretty uncomfortable to sleep for the first 3 days because it was so painful. Hang in there, and sending love.

[SaltyBae in reply to Carola01]

Thanks for the insight, Carola! I’m hoping for the best and preparing for the worst when it comes to the pain afterwords 🙄