Facial skin cancer
Facial skin cancer care with a reconstructive focus
Facial skin cancer is common in Queensland, and it can feel unsettling when it shows up on such a visible part of your body. In our Brisbane and Gold Coast rooms, we focus on removing the cancer safely and planning the repair with care.
Plastic Surgeon Brisbane & Gold Coast
- February 19, 2026
Why a plastic surgeon treats facial skin cancer
Plenty of clinics remove moles and skin cancers, and often that’s appropriate.
The face is different. It’s delicate, visible, and closely tied to how you blink, breathe, speak and eat. A scar on your back hides under clothing. A scar on your cheek or forehead is always on show.
That’s why facial skin cancers are often treated with reconstruction in mind from the start. Once the cancer is removed, the repair matters. How it’s closed can affect function and how the scar settles.
Plastic surgeons are trained in both cancer removal and facial reconstruction. The goal is to remove the cancer safely and repair the area thoughtfully, aiming to preserve function and blend scars into natural lines where possible.
Plastic Surgeon Brisbane & Gold Coast
Facial skin cancer types and what they look like
Basal cell carcinoma
Often shortened to BCC, basal cell carcinoma is the most common type on the face. It can appear as a pearly bump, a pink patch that looks shiny, or a sore that bleeds and then seems to heal before returning. BCCs tend to grow slowly. Spread to distant parts of the body is rare, yet local damage can occur without treatment.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Often shortened to SCC. This can look like a scaly or crusted spot, a tender lump, or a sore that does not settle. Squamous cell carcinoma can grow faster than BCCs. Some can spread to nearby lymph nodes. Early assessment is important.
Toggle item: What about actinic keratosis?
Also called solar keratosis. These are rough, scaly patches caused by long-term sun exposure. They are not cancerous. However, some can develop into SCCs over time. Doctors treat them with creams, freezing or other methods, or choose surgery when a patch looks suspicious.
Melanoma on the face
A melanoma can change in colour, size or shape. Some look like a new dark mark. Others arise from an existing mole. Being told you might have a melanoma is a lot to take in, and it’s normal to feel worried.
The reassuring part is that finding it earlier often means a clearer plan and a smaller area to treat, which can make the next steps feel less overwhelming.
Where do you operate?
I consult from my private rooms at Mater Private Clinic and I operate as a plastic surgeon at many private hospitals in Brisbane, Queensland.
I can see Gold Coast patients from my private rooms: Shop 9/109 West Burleigh Rd, Burleigh Waters. I operate at
Facial skin cancer surgery planning
Planning facial skin cancer surgery
Most people come in with two worries. Getting rid of the cancer properly, and what the repair will mean for their face afterwards.
A biopsy is how we get certainty. A small piece of the spot is removed and sent to the lab, so we know exactly what we’re dealing with.
After the diagnosis is confirmed,we look at three key details in the pathology report. The type of cancer, the size and depth, and whether there are any higher-risk features. That information helps decide the safest way to remove it and how wide the removal needs to be.
Repair options after facial skin cancer removal
- Direct closure: The edges are brought together and stitched. Good for small to moderate wounds in relaxed areas.
- Skin graft: A thin layer of skin from a nearby site covers the wound. Useful when closing would be tight.
- Local flap: Skin next to the wound is moved to cover it while keeping its blood supply. This often matches colour and thickness well.
- Cartilage support: In the nose or ear, a small piece of cartilage can support shape during healing.
Facial skin cancer day surgery
What happens on the day
Most facial skin cancer procedures are done as day surgery. Smaller spots are often removed under local anaesthetic, so the area is numb and you stay awake. Bigger or more complex repairs may be done under general anaesthetic, which means being asleep for the procedure.
Stitches are placed with fine suture material. A light dressing protects the wound and can collect a small amount of ooze in the first 24 hours.
You’ll go home with clear written instructions, and we will call you after the facial skin surgery to check how you’re going.
Recovery, scars and review
Swelling and bruising in the first week are common. Bruising can drift downward, and the eyelids may look puffy even when surgery wasn’t directly on them. Rest, cool compresses and keeping your head raised can help.
Many people return to desk work within a few days after smaller procedures, though healing time varies. Scars usually start pink and firm, then soften and fade over time.
Once healed, we may suggest silicone gel and gentle massage. Temporary numbness around the incision is common and often improves gradually.
Please contact our clinic for rapidly increasing swelling on one side, worsening pain, fever, or cloudy discharge. For urgent concerns after hours, seek medical care immediately.
Facial skin cancer clinics Brisbane and Gold Coast
Visiting us in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast
Dr Andrew Hadj consults from his private rooms at Mater Private Clinic in South Brisbane. He performs surgery at Mater Private Hospital, Herston Private Hospital and South Brisbane Day Hospital.
On the Gold Coast, consultations are available at our Burleigh Waters rooms. Surgery is performed at Miami Private Hospital and Gold Coast Private Hospital.
Surgery is performed at Miami Private Hospital and Gold Coast Private Hospital. Our reception can guide you on parking, access and transport.
Please see your GP if you notice a new, changing or non-healing spot on the face. Referrals to Dr Andrew Hadj can be sent directly to the rooms.
Plastic surgery care team Brisbane
Facial skin cancer FAQs
Yes. Any cut on the skin heals with a scar. The aim is to place the incision and repair in natural creases or borders where possible so the scar is less noticeable as it settles. Scars vary between people and change over time.
Most swelling improves within one to two weeks. Mild puffiness or firmness can take several weeks, sometimes a few months, to settle as the tissues heal. Timing varies from person to person.
Many skin cancer procedures have Medicare item numbers. If the criteria are met, a rebate may apply. Whether private health insurance contributes depends on your policy, any waiting periods, and whether the procedure is done in hospital as an admitted patient.
Fees vary with the size and site of the lesion and the type of reconstruction. After your consultation, we can provide a written estimate with item numbers so you can check potential rebates with Medicare and your fund. A gap may still apply.
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Facial skin cancer care with a reconstructive focus
Breast augmentation recovery: understanding the early changes
Plastic Surgery Queensland
Suite 2.01
Mater Private Clinic
550 Stanley Street
South Brisbane QLD 4101
Plastic Surgery Queensland
Gold Coast
109 W. Burleigh Road
Burleigh Waters QLD 4220
