Reconstruction After BCC Surgery – Direct Closure

After removing your basal cell carcinoma (rodent ulcer), your surgeon may be able to close your wound directly. This means that the wound is stitched closed, without using a skin graft or flap.

Email us with any questions

info@mohs-surgeon.co.uk

How is a wound closed directly?

Usually, the wound after basal cell carcinoma surgery will be a round or oval shape.

If this was stitched closed at this point, the two ends of the wound would ‘poke up’ or bulge.

To counter this and try to leave a flatter scar, the surgeon will cut these ‘bulges’ out at the same time.

This means the scar will be longer, but flatter. Occasionally small bulges can remain though.

The surgeon will also usually try to close your wound so that the scar is orientated in the most cosmetic way.

What stitches are used?

This can vary depending on factors such as size of wound, location, width of wound, and surgeon preference.

When dissolving stitches are used, these usually ‘melt away’ and fall out after about 7-10 days. You therefore don’t need to have these removed, but they can sometimes leave small stitch marks (pin-point scars) either side of the main scar.

Quite often, dissolving stitches will be put deep into the wound, giving it more strength while the scar forms.

For the skin, either dissolving or non-dissolving stitches may be used.

Sometimes, the surgeon can use a subcuticular stitch. This is a stitch that runs inside the skin, so as it dissolves it won’t leave stitch marks. This stitch can’t always be used though.

Non-dissolving stitches are usually taken out at around 5-10 days, depending on which part of the body they have been used.

They can usually just be cut with fine scissors and slid out of the wound fairly painlessly.

Reconstruction after BCC surgery – direct closure

Learn more about direct wound closure after BCC surgery.

View Now

Reconstruction after BCC surgery – local flap

Find out how local flap techniques are used to repair BCC surgery wounds.

Learn More

Reconstruction after BCC surgery – full thickness skin graft (FTSG)

Learn more about full thickness skin grafts used in BCC reconstruction.

View Now

Reconstruction after BCC surgery – split skin graft (SSG)

Discover how split skin grafts are used to reconstruct larger BCC wounds.

View Now

Reconstruction after BCC surgery – forehead flap

Learn more about the forehead flap technique for reconstructing complex BCC defects.

Learn More

Reconstruction after BCC surgery – pedicled nasolabial flap

Find out how the pedicled nasolabial flap is used to reconstruct areas affected by BCC surgery.

View Now

Reconstruction after BCC surgery – Secondary Intent Healing

Discover how secondary intent healing allows certain BCC surgery wounds to heal naturally without stitches, offering a less invasive recovery option.

View Now

Important information

Mr Tehrani is one of the UK’s leading Mohs and Reconstructive Surgeons, with a reputation for providing expert, patient-focused skin cancer care. If you have concerns about a skin lesion or are seeking specialist treatment, please get in touch — we’re here to help.

Meet Mr Tehrani

Find a Location

Request An Appointment

Mohs Surgery