How do I prepare for Melanoma surgery

Preparing for Melanoma Surgery

I'm glad you're thinking ahead about preparation—being ready can help reduce anxiety and improve your surgical experience. Here's what you should generally expect and how to prepare:

Before Your Surgery

Medical Preparation:

• Your surgical team will give you specific pre-operative instructions (usually 1-2 weeks before surgery)
• You'll likely need to stop certain medications, especially blood thinners like aspirin or ibuprofen, as these can increase bleeding
• Avoid eating or drinking after midnight the night before surgery (your anesthesiologist will specify the exact time)
• Arrange for someone to drive you home, as anesthesia affects your ability to drive safely

Skin Preparation:

• Wash the surgical area thoroughly the night before and morning of surgery
• Don't apply lotions, makeup, or deodorant on the day of surgery
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing that won't irritate the surgical site

Mental & Logistical Preparation:

• Arrange time off work for recovery (typically 1-2 weeks depending on surgery extent)
• Stock your home with easy-to-prepare foods and supplies you'll need during recovery
• Plan for help at home if possible—you may have limited mobility initially
• Write down questions for your surgical team beforehand

Questions to Ask Your Surgical Team

According to the NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Melanoma, surgery is typically the primary treatment for melanoma. Before your procedure, ask your team:

1. What type of surgery will I have? (For example, will you have a sentinel lymph node biopsy—a procedure to check if cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes—or a wider excision to remove tissue around the melanoma?)

2. How much tissue will be removed, and what will the scar look like?

3. Will I need a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB)? This is a surgical procedure where dyes and radioactive substances are used to identify and remove the first lymph node(s) that drain from your melanoma site to check for cancer cells.

4. What are the specific recovery restrictions? (When can I shower, exercise, drive, return to work?)

5. What signs of infection or complications should I watch for after surgery?

6. Will I need additional treatment after surgery? According to NCCN Guidelines, depending on your melanoma stage and features, you might receive adjuvant (follow-up) therapy like immunotherapy with nivolumab or pembrolizumab.

7. How often will I need follow-up appointments and skin exams?

During Recovery

• Keep the surgical site clean and dry as directed
• Take prescribed pain medication as needed
• Avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting for the time your doctor specifies
• Watch for signs of infection: increasing redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, or fever
• Protect the healing area from sun exposure

The Bigger Picture

According to the NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Melanoma (2025), surgery is often just the first step. Depending on your melanoma's stage and characteristics found during surgery, you may be recommended for additional treatments. This is why follow-up appointments and discussions with your care team are so important—they'll determine if you need further treatment to reduce the risk of recurrence.

The good news: melanoma is curable, especially when caught early and treated appropriately. More than 3 in 4 melanomas are found early, before they've spread, making them easier to treat.

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This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare team for personalized medical advice and decisions.