Recovering From Skin Cancer Surgery

Most skin cancer surgery heals uneventfully — and heals best when you know what's normal, what helps, and what needs a phone call. Here is the typical course, week by week. Your own surgeon's instructions always come first.

Timeline

Week by week

The first 48 hoursKeep the dressing dry and intact. Some ooze, swelling and bruising is normal — facial wounds bruise impressively and settle quickly. For minor bleeding, press firmly with clean gauze for ten minutes. Rest, keep the area elevated where possible, and avoid bending, straining and alcohol.
Week oneFollow your specific washing instructions — many dressings can be kept dry with care while showering. Facial sutures are typically removed around five to seven days; other sites take longer. Avoid strenuous exercise, swimming and heavy lifting while sutures are in.
Weeks two to sixThe wound is closed but immature: expect the scar to look pink, firm and slightly raised — this is normal healing, not the final result. Gentle return to normal activity; protect the area absolutely from sun.
Months two to twelveScars remodel for a full year. They soften, flatten and fade from pink toward skin colour. This is when scar care pays its dividends.

Scar care

The part patients control

Sun protection — the single most important factor. A scar that tans stays visible; use SPF 50+ on the scar for a year
Taping or silicone — micropore tape or silicone gel/sheets, as directed, help flatten and fade scars
Massage — once fully healed, firm massage with a bland moisturiser softens firm scars
Patience — judge nothing before three months, and the final result at twelve

Red flags

When to call

Contact your surgeon promptly for: spreading redness or increasing pain after day three, fever, a wound that opens, bleeding that doesn't stop with ten minutes of firm pressure, or pus. Out of hours, your nearest emergency department can assess any wound concern. These problems are uncommon — and almost always simple to fix when reported early.

Common questions

Questions patients ask

When can I shower after skin cancer surgery?

Usually within a day or two, keeping the dressing dry as instructed — many modern dressings tolerate a brief shower. Your specific instructions depend on the site and repair.

When do the stitches come out?

Facial sutures typically at five to seven days; the trunk and limbs at ten to fourteen. Some repairs use dissolving sutures that need no removal.

When can I exercise again?

Light walking immediately; strenuous exercise, swimming and heavy lifting generally wait until sutures are out and the wound has strength — commonly two weeks, longer for grafts and larger repairs.

Can I fly after surgery?

Short domestic flights are usually reasonable within days of minor surgery, but this depends on the repair — flag any travel plans at your consultation so timing can be planned around them.

How long until the scar fades?

Scars are at their worst — pink and firm — around four to eight weeks, then improve steadily for a year. Sun protection and scar care meaningfully change the end result.

Also on this site

Next step

Enquiries & referrals

Consultations in Sydney CBD and North Sydney. Referrals from GPs, dermatologists and Mohs surgery specialists welcome. Phone 1300 911 151.

Make an enquiry