Has anyone ever had a skin biopsy?

[Boco]

What do they do?
How long does it take?
Does it hurt? [wimp]

It's very quick, they just cut a bit of your skin off.
I thought it hurt, but I'm a real wimp.
The other thing is, it leaves a scar, so try and get them to do it in a 'hidden part of your body.

I've had one for moles.

They just chopped a bit off and that was it.

over v v v quickly

chopped it off? [faint]

You didn't tell me that Fox, that there was chopping.

And scarring? Scarring? [faint again]

I had one on my lip. 3 stitches, a week later 2 have dropped out but one is still there.

oh you've got to have scars

to show the children

and boast

it's no fun without scars

well, chopping is harsh. Maybe sawing.

Actually, all they do is whip out a sharp knife and slice a tiny bit off. You don't feel a thing.

Just don't look when they do it. And by the time you've thought 'omfg, I hate this I hate this' it'll already be over.

Hi Boco,

I had one 18 months ago on a dodgy mole that then turned out to be malignant melanoma - this lead to a wider excision of the area.

I can honestly say that it didn't hurt a bit although when they injected the anaesthetic it was slightly uncomfortable.

hope this helps

Oh and my scar is a talking point when i meet new people - i tell them I was attacked by a shark

oh, no, wondered when you were having this

I reckon it's not that painful

Thank you. Just curious as don't know what to expect and am a wimp about hospitals and procedures etc - bad enough that they're taking blood.

Blondie sorry to hear yours was melanoma and hope you're ok.

Oh no MrsC, you've just had major surgery, you are highlighting my wimpyness with your very presence

Really will just be glad to have some answers to what this is so glad it's happening, just wandering what they'll actually do.

Thanks Boco - I'm still under a consultant (and will be for a few years yet) but they managed to get it all out, thanks to the wider excision and I was very lucky that it hadn't spread.

It really won't be as bad as you think!

i had a mole removed & they used a glorified hole punch . it didn't hurt though, i guess some local anasthetic was used. it was quite interesting & over very quickly.

Hmm, I will try and see it as interesting.

Blondie really glad it hadn't spread and that they'll be keeping a close eye.

oh gawd, I won't be able to post anywhere with this procedure hierachy

yes, I think I had some sort of anaesthetic? I can't remember. Think just an injection.

Seriously, the best thing to do is NOT LOOK if you don't like this sort of thing. I think I brought a book or stared out the window.

have they said if it is a punch, shave or incisional biopsy?

I'm sure there will be a local anyway

I don't like those words you use!
Punch shave incise?
No, they didn't say any of those things.
I don't want to be punched shaved or incised though!

well I think a punch would be the best, it's tiny, you can fit it on the head of a pin, that's what they take initally off the cervix and apparently you can barely feel it and there's no local. I didn't have that so I don't know.

A shave will be tiny superficial layer of skin, will prob just leave a scab

Doubt you will have incisional for your problem ,it's only the top layer that is affected isn't it? That might need stitches. I don't know really.

MrsC, I was thinking about you in the middle of the night! HOw are you? Do you have a thraed or anything?

Were you? How nice of you!

I don't have a thread, no, maybe I should ressurect the other one, it just felt a bit weird to but people said they wanted to know how I'd got on so perhaps I should.

I am ok, an atrocious patient but recovering well. My histology results are clear so that is very good news.

Sorry, Boco, I am stealing your procedure spot.

it's just an itsy scar for a skin biopsy

glad the results were clear MrsC. You had a lot of people thinking of you .

Thank you foxinsocks - I should do a thread and thank everyone and let them know how I am. Feels a bit odd and pay me more attention though iyswim..

oh good MrsC

sorry Boco, I know nothing of skin biopsies, I hope it goes ok