Dr Farrant is an accomplished dermatological surgeon and is trained to remove anything from benign skin lesions to skin cancers requiring wider excision and complex repairs with flaps or skin grafts.
He is part of the local NHS skin cancer surgical team and a core member of the skin cancer multidisciplinary team. Procedures are carried out under local anaesthetic as a day case procedure, with no need to fast or stop medication.
With the exception of obviously benign lesions (skin tags and seborrhoeic warts), most samples are sent off for histological analysis. Dr Farrant has partnered with the LD Path group, one of the worlds leading dedicated dermatopathology services, that provides an outstanding service, with most results being available within a few days.
Shave
A shave is a superficial technique carried out under a local anaesthetic. It is used to remove raised moles and seborrhoeic keratoses (non-cancerous skin growths). It leaves a small graze like wound that heals within a couple of weeks to leave a flat pale scar. Shave procedures can usually be carried out at the time of the initial consultation.
Curettage
Curettage is a scraping technique that is used to remove areas of sun damage and some skin cancers. It is combined with hyfrecation, a form of electrical surgery that destroys tissue and prevents bleeding. This leaves a blackened area that will often scab before healing up in a similar way to a shave. Curettage can usually be carried out at the time of the initial consultation.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy refers to the destruction of tissue using a very cold substance. Liquid nitrogen, at minus 200 degrees centigrade, is typically used to destroy superficial skin lesions such as warts, sun damage and superficial skin cancers. A small ice ball is created in the skin that will often cause some swelling, redness and mild pain. The skin will usually heal within a week to leave a pale scar. Cryotherapy can usually be carried out at the time of the initial consultation.
Biopsy
The word biopsy is often associated with cancer, but in dermatology biopsy refers to a sampling technique of the skin and is often used to diagnose rashes as well as suspected skin cancer. A small round device like a mini apple corer is used under a local anaesthetic to remove a cylinder of skin for sampling. The hole is closed with a stitch, which is normally removed around 7-10 days later. A biopsy can usually be carried out at the time of the initial consultation.
Excision
Excision refers to skin being cut out with a scalpel, typically in an ellipse or ‘eye like’ shape. This is used to remove suspicious moles and skin cancers, with a margin of normal skin being removed around the lesion as well. The skin is then closed with internal (dissolvable) and external stitches.
Excisions are usually booked in as a day case procedure.
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Nuffield Haywards Heath
The Montefiore Hospital
