What to expect on your surgery day

· You can drive yourself to your surgery appointment. The initial appointment will take approximately 60-90 minutes, but plan to be at the clinic for 1-3 hours. If you have ever felt light-headed or faint with medical procedures/lab work, we recommend someone drives you. 

· Please eat at least 60 minutes prior to your appointment.
 

· Please arrive at your scheduled appointment time for check-in. You will be greeted by one of our Administrative Team Members who will have you review and sign the consent form and collect the contact information for your Driver (if you aren't driving yourself)

· One of our Nurses will then bring you into a surgical suite where you will be prepped for surgery. This will include a discussion of your diagnosis and the planned treatment, and details of the surgery and expected outcomes. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions as this time. 

· After you consent to surgery, the procedure has been discussed and all your questions have been answered, Dr. Guillemaud or Heather Harper, NP will mark out the area of removal. This will be shown to you with a mirror.
 

· Next, local anesthetic will be injected into the area by one of the Nurses so that you are comfortable during the procedure.

· Dr. Guillemaud or Heather Harper, NP will test the area to ensure the area is completely frozen and the tissue will be taken.

· Once the skin cancer is removed, your tissue will be sent to the Calgary lab for analysis. This process can typically take a few weeks. Once we have your results, our office will give you a call. 

· At this point in the surgery, the closure of the excision will begin. This involves loosening the tissue, cauterizing the blood vessels and stitching the skin closed, usually in 2 layers - deep dissolvable stitches underneath the skin and surface stitches. This process can take 30-90 minutes.

· Once the excision is closed, a pressure dressing will be put on the area which will remain in place for 3 days.  

· Post-operative instructions and wound care will be provided  to you by the Nurse in written and verbal form. Any post-operative prescriptions, if needed, will be provided and discussed with you. 

· Your surgery is now complete and any follow-up or suture removal appointment can be booked on your way out of the clinic.