Minor surgery covers small procedures done under local anaesthetic, which numbs just the area being treated. You walk in, have the procedure in our treatment room, and go home the same day to recover.
Ingrown toenails
For ingrown toenails that keep coming back or are very painful, we offer partial nail avulsion with chemical matricectomy.
- The procedure. Rather than taking off the whole nail, we remove only the narrow edge that is digging in, usually 2 to 3 mm wide.
- Stopping regrowth. We apply a chemical called phenol to the root of that edge. This greatly reduces the chance of it growing back.
- Recovery. Many people find the pain eases quickly, and most can return to light activity within a day or two.
Skin lumps and spots
We choose the treatment that suits the type of lesion.
- Excision. Moles, cysts and lipomas (fatty lumps) can be cut out with a small margin of skin. The wound is closed with fine stitches to keep the scar as small as possible.
- Cryotherapy (freezing). Liquid nitrogen is used for skin tags, warts and sunspots (actinic keratoses). The spot blisters and falls off over the following days. It often doesn’t need a local anaesthetic.
Skin cancer
Australia’s strong sun means skin cancer is common, and finding and treating it early matters.
- Suspicious spots. If a spot looks like it could be a basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or melanoma, we may take a biopsy or remove it fully.
- Pathology. Every piece of skin we remove is sent to a laboratory. This confirms what it was, checks that it has been fully removed, and tells us whether you need any further treatment.
- Margins. We follow current Australian guidelines on how much healthy skin to remove around a skin cancer.
Contraceptive implants
We insert and remove contraceptive implants, a small rod placed just under the skin of the inner upper arm. It provides reliable contraception for up to three years. Each procedure takes only a few minutes under local anaesthetic. The implant works straight away if it is put in at the right time in your cycle. See our contraception page.
What to expect on the day
- Talking it through. Your GP explains the procedure, its risks and benefits, and asks for your consent.
- The procedure. It is done in our dedicated treatment room with sterile equipment. A local anaesthetic numbs the area first.
- Aftercare. You go home with clear instructions on caring for the wound, what to avoid, and when to come back for a wound check or to have stitches out, usually 7 to 14 days later.
Procedures are privately billed. Procedure and consumable fees are listed on our fees page.
Helpful resources
- Cancer Council Australia: what to expect after a skin cancer diagnosis.
- Healthdirect: information on ingrown toenails and their treatment.
- SHQ (Sexual Health Quarters): WA information on contraceptive implants and other long-acting options.