What is minor surgery?
Minor surgery consists of a series of short-term surgical techniques usually performed on the superficial structures of the body. They usually require local anesthesia and are performed with low risk and few complications. Therefore, they are small interventions that, in a simple way, can solve traumatic injuries or, in most cases, benign lesions or skin alterations that, if not resolved in time, can worsen. These procedures do not usually require postoperative resuscitation and are performed on an outpatient basis.
Why is it performed?
Minor surgery is performed to solve small problems through simple surgical procedures of short duration, usually. In fact, they are performed in primary care centers or hospital units.
Normally, the most common pathologies that can be treated with minor surgery are:
- Ingrown toenails
- Drainage of infections and skin lesions
- Boils
- Abscesses
- Sebaceous cysts
- Lipomas
- Warts
- Skin cysts
- Dermatofibromas or histiocytomas
- Molluscum and papillomas
- Removal of benign epidermoid tumors
- Foreign bodies
- Ulcers or devitalized tissues
- Seborrheic keratosis
- Nail excision
- Wound reconstruction and healing
- Burns
- Wound reconstruction
- Shallow cuts
- Incisional or incisional biopsies
- Nail deformities
- Nail biopsies
- Removal of melanocytic nevi
- Derivation of suspected malignant lesions: epidermoid, basal cell, melanoma
- Cryosurgery
- Electrosurgery
What does it consist of?
It consists in the repair of small lesions suffered by the patient with simple and short duration surgeries, on an outpatient basis, with local anesthesia. Minor surgery is within the field of expertise of the Family Medicine specialist, as well as nurses. Normally these are techniques that do not carry any risk but it is important to perform a correct surgical technique and an adequate follow-up with cures, so that there are no postoperative complications. If necessary, samples will also be collected.
Preparation for minor surgery
In principle, no prior preparation is necessary for minor surgery. As mentioned above, it is an outpatient surgery and of short duration, so the patient will go home at the end of the procedure. In addition, the anesthesia will be topical or local, it does not produce side effects. The specialist will prescribe everything the patient needs for the following days (medication, dressings, etc.) and, if necessary, will recommend going to the health center for dressings.
Care after surgery
After the intervention, it is possible that cures may be necessary so that the small incision that has been made closes and heals well, without keloid scars may appear. In case of discomfort, the specialist will prescribe medication and, if necessary, will indicate the patient to go to the hospital to make the first cures. When the wound is better, the patient may be able to do it alone at home, or with the help of a family member or person who lives with him/her, if the injury is located in areas that are not very accessible.