Service
Basal cell carcinoma removal
Basal cell carcinoma (basalioma) is the most common skin tumour. It grows slowly and locally, most often on the face and other sun-exposed areas, and does not spread to distant organs. It is removed surgically, in full, with histopathological analysis of the margin.
What concerns does it address?
How is it done?
The lesion is cut out with a margin of healthy skin and sent for analysis, which confirms that the margin is clear. A smaller basal cell carcinoma is stitched directly. A larger one, or one where there is no spare skin — nose, eyelid, ear — is closed with a local flap or a skin graft, so that the result is neat and functional.
After removal
Skin that has once produced a basal cell carcinoma is prone to new ones, so regular skin checks and sun protection are recommended.
When is the procedure not suitable?
A basal cell carcinoma is not treated with creams, “burning” or a laser without prior analysis. With a basal cell carcinoma on the nose, near the eye or ear, where the skin is thin, flap reconstruction is planned in the same procedure. With a large or recurrent basal cell carcinoma, or when the first one has already been removed with a margin that was not clear, planning is done together with an oncologist.
General reasons for postponing a procedure (pregnancy, breastfeeding, inflammation, a clotting disorder, smoking): When is a procedure postponed?
Anaesthesia
Before a procedure under general or regional anaesthesia, you are seen by the anaesthetist, who works full time at the clinic; the same doctor is also present during the procedure. The anaesthetic assessment and the anaesthesia for larger operations are included in the price of the procedure. What happens before, during and after anaesthesia is described on the Anaesthesia page.
Risks
Occasional — a margin that is not clear and needs a repeat procedure, slower healing of the flap.
Expected, and rare but serious → Risks and complications: what is the course of healing, and what is a complication?
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Basal cell carcinoma of the face with histopathological analysis, smaller | €350–500 |
| Larger basal cell carcinoma of the face, with histopathological analysis and flap | €450–600 |
| Excision of a mole or tumour with reconstruction | €300–1,500 |
| Full-thickness skin flaps | €300–700 |
| Free skin graft, small area | €300–700 |
Specialist and team
Specialty: general surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
What happens at the examination?
The first examination lasts 30 to 45 minutes on average. The surgeon examines the area you are concerned about, asks about illnesses, medicines, allergies and previous operations, and talks with you about what you expect. If the procedure is appropriate and likely to help, you receive a plan: which procedure is proposed, under which anaesthesia, what recovery looks like and what is included in the price. If the procedure is not needed or would not give you what you expect, you will hear that at the examination too.
What if the result is not as agreed?
The result of a procedure is assessed at a follow-up visit, once the swelling has gone down and the scar has matured, not in the first weeks. If it differs from what was agreed at the examination, the same surgeon carries out the correction.
→ Poliklinika Barbel's correction policy
Frequently asked questions
Is basal cell carcinoma dangerous? It grows slowly and locally and does not spread to distant organs, but untreated it grows in depth and width, and on the face it can damage the nose, eye or ear. The earlier it is removed, the smaller the incision and scar.
What is a flap? Neighbouring skin that is moved to cover the spot where the lesion was removed when there is not enough spare skin for a direct stitch.
Can it come back? Rarely in the same place, if the margin is clear. Anyone who has had one basal cell carcinoma has a greater tendency to new ones in other places — hence a skin check once a year and sun protection.
What is basal cell carcinoma? The most common skin cancer, in sun-exposed places — face, nose, ears, scalp, shoulders. It looks like a shiny lump, a sore that does not heal and bleeds from time to time, or a reddish patch.
What if the margin is not clear? Further removal is arranged. That is why the histology result is awaited before the scar is considered final.
How much does the result depend on care after the procedure? The larger the procedure, the more it depends on it, but it always does. Healing takes weeks and months and happens almost entirely at home, so the instructions you receive when you go home, about the wound, physical activity and the scar, are part of the procedure, not a recommendation.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.