Minor Surgery

Whitstable Medical Practice offers a Minor Surgery Service which is accessible to any patient registered with Whitstable Medical Practice.

You will need a referral from your GP before booking in for surgery, your GP will ask you to contact the Patient Coordinators team on your usual site to book you in with one of our clinicians who specialise in Minor Surgical procedures.

What is Minor Surgery?

You may be referred to the Minor Surgery Clinic by your GP for removal of a skin lesion. If the lesion falls off whilst you are awaiting surgery you may no longer need an operation; if this is the case, please arrange a review with your GP to check prior to your operation date. If the lesion changes or grows whilst you are awaiting surgery, please arrange a review with your GP.

The Appointment

You do not need to bring anything in particular to your appointment as the operating clinician will have access to your medical records. In most cases you will be safe to drive after the procedure but if the operation involves the area around your eyes, arms or legs, it may be that you are unable to drive immediately after the procedure. If you are taking blood thinning medication, please continue to take this prior to your appointment and if you are taking Warfarin, please arrange to have an INR check during the week prior to your surgery.

The clinician performing the surgery will discuss the procedure with you and ask you to read and sign a consent form. In most cases you will require a local anaesthetic injection to the area to numb the skin, this will sting as it goes in but wears off within a minute and you then should not be able to feel anything during the procedure. If you require stitches, these are usually removed 5-10 days after the procedure depending on the site. Please make sure you are available to have your stitches removed after your procedures i.e. do not book a holiday for immediately after your procedure.

Anticoagulation

If you are taking blood thinning medication please read the advice below. Prior to skin surgery you should not stop or withhold your medication. Please keep taking medications such as aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, apixaban and rivaroxaban up to and including your date of surgery.

Skin Surgery

As part of the dermatology clinic, you may undergo a procedure under local anaesthetic. Your small operation is required as we need to either completely remove a skin lesion (called excision) or take a small sample of a lesion (called a biopsy).

Learn more by visiting the East Kent Community Dermatology website

The Team

Our team of doctors and nurses have all undergone additional training in skin surgery. All referrals are triaged and you will be booked with the most appropriate clinician for your procedure.

Cancellations

If for any reason you cannot make your appointment, or if you have any queries following an appointment, please contact your surgery Patient Coordinator team on: 01227 284300

Clinic Location

Estuary View Medical Centre
Boorman Way
Whitstable
Kent
CT5 3SE