At Mayfield Medical Connection, a suspicious lesion can be biopsied or excised at the practice by Dr Shafiq Rahman, generally within one to four weeks of the skin check depending on urgency and complexity. Where the wound cannot be closed in a straight line, minor flaps and grafts are performed in the practice. More complex reconstructions are assessed and referred on. Call (02) 4968 2157 to book a skin check.
The part nobody explains before it happens
Skin check content usually stops at the check. You are told to watch for changes, told what the ABCDE rule is, told to book an appointment. Then the appointment finds something, and suddenly there is a whole second process nobody described: a biopsy, a wait, a result, a referral, another wait, a procedure, and possibly another referral on top of that for the repair.
This article covers that second half.
Step one: biopsy or straight to excision
If a lesion is clearly suspicious, it may be excised outright with an appropriate margin. If the diagnosis is uncertain, a biopsy comes first, which can be a shave, punch or incisional biopsy depending on the lesion. The point of a biopsy is to avoid doing a bigger operation than the lesion turns out to need.
Either way, tissue goes to histopathology. At Mayfield Medical Connection the collection happens on site, because Australian Clinical Labs operate a pathology collection service inside the practice. Results generally come back within one to two weeks.
Step two: closing the wound
This is the step most people have not thought about, and it is the one that decides how many appointments and how many doctors are involved.
Direct closure
Most excisions on the back, chest, arms and legs can be closed in a straight line, because there is enough loose skin nearby to pull the edges together. Sutures go in, and come out a week or two later depending on the site.
A flap
Where there is not enough slack, or where pulling the edges together would distort something that matters, such as an eyelid, a nostril or a lip, skin from immediately next to the wound is moved across to cover it while staying attached to its own blood supply. That is a flap. It is planned rather than improvised, and it needs surgical training.
A graft
Where there is no usable nearby tissue, skin is taken from somewhere else on the body, commonly the neck, behind the ear, the collarbone area or the inner arm, and laid into the defect. That is a graft. The donor site is closed separately.
Dr Rahman performs minor flaps and grafts at Mayfield Medical Connection. Larger defects, and lesions in sites that call for specialist input, are assessed and referred on. That assessment is the valuable part, and it happens at your skin check rather than after a chain of appointments.
Step three: results, follow up and surveillance
Dr Rahman reviews the histopathology and contacts you to discuss it. That conversation covers whether the margins were clear, whether anything further is needed, and how often you should be checked from here. Because he is a GP, that surveillance sits inside your ordinary general practice care rather than being a separate appointment you have to remember to chase.
How long does it take?
From skin check to a booked excision at Mayfield Medical Connection is generally one to four weeks, depending on clinical urgency and the complexity of the procedure. More urgent lesions are prioritised. Straightforward lesions can occasionally be dealt with at the same visit as the check.
Why surgical training matters for this
Dr Shafiq Rahman trained in general surgery before general practice, completing postgraduate surgical training with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (MRCS), and continues as an Assistant Surgeon in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Newcastle Private Hospital. He also holds advanced qualifications in dermatoscopy and in the medical and surgical management of skin cancer.
The practical effect is that identifying the lesion, removing it and, for minor cases, repairing the defect can happen with one doctor at one practice. And where it should not, that call is made early by someone qualified to make it.
Book a skin check in Newcastle
No referral is required. Dr Rahman is accepting new and returning patients.
- Phone: (02) 4968 2157
- Online: book through AutoMed Systems on this website
- Address: 55 Hanbury Street, Mayfield NSW 2304
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Full service detail is on the skin cancer surgery page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a plastic surgeon to remove a skin cancer?
Not always. Many skin cancers are removed by a GP with appropriate surgical training. Dr Shafiq Rahman at Mayfield Medical Connection performs excisions and minor flaps and grafts at the practice in Mayfield, Newcastle. Complex reconstructions and lesions in sites needing specialist input are assessed and referred on. Book a skin check on (02) 4968 2157 to find out which applies.
What is the difference between a skin flap and a skin graft?
A flap moves skin from immediately beside the wound while keeping it attached to its own blood supply. A graft takes skin from another part of the body and lays it into the defect, with the donor site closed separately. Flaps are generally used where nearby tissue is available, grafts where it is not. Dr Shafiq Rahman performs minor flaps and grafts at Mayfield Medical Connection.
How long does it take to get a skin cancer removed in Newcastle?
At Mayfield Medical Connection, an excision is generally booked within one to four weeks of the skin check, depending on clinical urgency and complexity. More urgent lesions are prioritised, and straightforward lesions can occasionally be treated at the same visit. Call (02) 4968 2157.
How long do skin cancer pathology results take?
Tissue removed at Mayfield Medical Connection is collected on site through Australian Clinical Labs and sent for histopathology. Results generally come back within one to two weeks. Dr Rahman reviews them and contacts you to discuss the findings and any further steps.
Can a skin cancer on the nose, ear or lip be removed at a GP practice?
It depends on the lesion and the repair required. Sites like the nose, ear, eyelid and lip often need a flap or a graft rather than a straight closure. Dr Shafiq Rahman performs minor flaps and grafts at Mayfield Medical Connection and assesses and refers on anything more complex. The assessment happens at your skin check, so you find out early. Call (02) 4968 2157.
Will I have a scar after skin cancer removal?
Any excision leaves a scar. How it looks depends on the size and site of the lesion, the type of closure used and how you heal. Dr Rahman will explain the expected result and the aftercare that helps before the procedure is booked.
Is skin cancer removal covered by Medicare?
Medicare rebates apply to many skin cancer procedures. Mayfield Medical Connection is a private billing practice, so there is usually a gap. Fees depend on the lesion, the site and the type of repair, and are discussed with you before anything is booked. Call (02) 4968 2157.