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I was recently diagnosed with a melanoma in situ and am due for a WLE in the next few weeks. The mole was on my thigh and the excision biopsy was fine. A little tight to begin with but it wasn't really painful even after the local wore off.

I've been wondering what the next op will be like. I know they go 0.5cm all around, but will this be around the whole scar, which is much larger than the mole was. And will they go 0.5cm deep?

It seems from the posts above as though this will be a bigger op than I've been expecting. Wondering if, since it's on my thigh and not near my knee whether it will be as bad as it has been for some of you.

Please can anyone share their experience as to what to expect? I thought I'd be back in work the next day.

Feel releived its in situ so only really worrying at this stage about the op itself.

Thanks Angie that leaflet's very helpful.

My excision biopsy wasn't done as elliptical as doctor said my mole was only small so it wasn't necessary. I'm now left with a scar with redness around that extends to 2cm by 1cm which is 2cm horizontally on my thigh. Do you think they'll need to go 0.5cm beyond that to get a vertical elliptical this time as then I'm thinking it will need a long scar and be very tight afterwards until everything strectes out.

I can't really say I'm afraid. They will explain it to you before the procedure & I know that my WLE was done vertically, following the vertical scar from the initial biopsy, but I don't know if every surgeon does the same (mine was on my shin).

Hi 

Im due have a WLE next week as well as a lymph biopsy in my groin. I'm just wondering what to expect after the operation? 

Hi Cuba,

This link may help explain what happens during & what to expect after these procedures www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/.../sentinel-lymph-node-biopsy-for-malignant-melanoma.pdf

Depending on the size & location of the WLE and SLNB the rate of recovery will vary & the risk of any side effects. The things to watch out for are infection (redness & heat) which will require antibiotics, swelling which may be caused by lymphoedema - this doesn't happen often but the risk increases depending on how many nodes have been removed.

Good luck, I hope the results come back clear,

Angie

Hi Angie 

Thank you for your reply. Fingers crossed everything comes back clear 

Hi Madcats.  It sounds like we're similar.  I had a mole removed on my left thigh at the beginning of October and was diagnosed with melanoma in situ.  I had my WLE 2 weeks ago (tomorrow).  I am finding it quite different.  I did have pain from my previous surgery (my GP used to work in dermatology so he removed my mole and a 0.5cm margin).  

This time they have done another 0.5cm around the existing scar site, and in addition to just the stiches and dressing I had last time, they also  cauterised the wound and I had a compression dressing on for a week.   My leg feels quite heavy and strangely today is more painful than it has been for the last few days (although to be fair I've been at work all morning).   Because its on the front of my thigh its in a place that can easily be knocked and as I do a lot of lifting and moving furniture around in my job I've had to get some help with that (I'm self employed so couldn't take the offer of a sick note).   I had my dressing changed and the compression dressing off last Thursday and I'm back this coming Friday to see if the stitches can come out (they're meant to be in for 16 days).

If you have an sedentary job you may be ok - but I would certainly go easy.   I was told to go home and rest for the weekend and put my feet up, which I did as personally I felt a bit naff!  

I hope that helps a little.

Thanks so much Snara, that's really helpful to know that it could be a different experience this time around. I hadn't considered the need for cauterisation or compression dressing or the delayed pain. It sounds like our ops are in a very similar place.

I hope your recovery continues well and the pain subsides soon. 

Have you been advised not to drive after the op? And we're you supplied with extra dressings or did you have to go back to hospital or GP for dressing changes?

Thats ok.  I'm not sure if the cauterisation or compression dressings are standard - I'm guessing it probaby varies dependent on person (my thighs are quite hefty as I seem to carry weight at the top of my legs so don't know whether things like that make a difference).    

I wasn't advised not to drive.  My partner came with me for my initial appointment at the clinic and he asked that question.  They said I would be fine to drive - but he rearranged work so that he could take me as he was worried if it was painful and I had to do an emergency stop then I might hurt myself.   I've also seen some literature for different health authorities where they say not to drive.   I think I would have been ok.  However I came out really emotional an upset (which I wasn't really expecting) and I was really glad I didn't have to drive home.

I wasn't provided with any additional dressings.  I was told to go to my GP at 7 days for a dressing change and wound check (unless there were any problems then obviously sooner) and 16 days for stitches out at my G also.   I went last Thurday for the check and dressing change where they put a standard dressing on - oh I also had lots and lots of steri-strips over the compession dressing and they were removed too).  There were a little gaping part but she wasn't concerned, changed the dressing and I'm back this Friday.  Its a day early, it will be 15 days and the nurse has said that she will decide on Friday whether the stitches come out then or whether I need to rebook for Monday.

As I say, I'm sure different health authorities probably operate differently but I hope this helps a little.  Thank you for your well wishes.  Its still quite sore and achy tonight but then I've been on my feet alot with work (just been out for another 6 hours this evening and I can feel it).  That said its not awful, I'm probably just being a wimp!  I'm also still waiting for the results so whilst I'm sure its all ok its still worrying.

I'm sure you're not being a wimp. My excision biopsy wasn't painful as such but the tight skin was uncomfortable so I'm expecting worse this time just not sure how much worse!  I have chunky thighs too so there's plenty of flesh to work with at least. 

I'll keep my fingers crossed for your results. Hopefully not too much longer for you to wait now. Please come back and let me know. It's good to know someone else going through it at a similar time. 

Thank you so much.  I'd just say that to listen to your body and take it sensibly.   When I went to have my stitches checked I knew the nurse through my job and she said that I still needed to take it easy because of the lifting.  Where it is I think its really easy to knock if you're carrying things about (or closing drawer like I did the other day) and I guess we just don't want to delay our healing.

I've just had a letter with an appointment for next week at the clinic.  There isn't any info on it  as to whether its for results ... but I've called and they've said its a follow up.  I haven't had a great experience at my clinic as they were rather cold so whist its horrible that you're going through this as well, it is indeed good to know that I'm not alone in it! 

Thank you so much.  I'd just say that to listen to your body and take it sensibly.   When I went to have my stitches checked I knew the nurse through my job and she said that I still needed to take it easy because of the lifting.  Where it is I think its really easy to knock if you're carrying things about (or closing drawer like I did the other day) and I guess we just don't want to delay our healing.

I've just had a letter with an appointment for next week at the clinic.  There isn't any info on it  as to whether its for results ... but I've called and they've said its a follow up.  I haven't had a great experience at my clinic as they were rather cold so whist its horrible that you're going through this as well, it is indeed good to know that I'm not alone in it!