Benign Skin Lesions – IFR Commissioning Statement

Surgical treatment of benign skin lesions will not be routinely commissioned by the NHS for cosmetic reasons.

Cases may be considered on an exceptional basis, for example when:

• lesions are visible- on hands or face- and of considerable size
• lesions are causing significant physical symptoms or impairment.

Lifestyle Factors - Best Practice

Obesity

• Patients with a BMI >30 should be encouraged by their Clinician to lose weight prior to surgery and signposted to appropriate support to address lifestyle factors that would improve their fitness for surgery and recovery afterwards.
• There is a clinical balance between risk of surgical complications with obesity and the risk to delaying any surgery.
• See Weight Management Care Pathways

Smoking

• In line with 'Healthy Lives, Healthy People; a tobacco control plan for England', local authorities and health professionals are committed to encourage more smokers to quit.
• Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable morbidity and premature death in England.
• There is sufficient evidence to suggest that people who smoke have a considerably increased risk of intra- and post-operative complications such as chest infections, lung disorders, wound complications and impaired healing.
• See Smoking Cessation Care Pathways

Please Note: The life style factors above are not a restriction to the commissioning statements unless otherwise stated

• This policy was developed on: 05.2017
• This policy was approved by: Clinical Strategy Group (NK) and Clinical Cabinet (WK)
• Date approved: 05.2017
• Publication Date: 05.2017
• Review Date: 04.2018
• Ref No: IFR12 - 05.2017

Any feedback or suggestions to improve this guidance should be sent to: oscaradmin@this.nhs.uk

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