Advice for GPs starting out in skin cancer surgery

"It is better to be a master of a couple of flaps rather than knowing a little bit about all the flaps. You're better off learning a couple of basic flaps that can be applied anywhere and everywhere." Hear Dr Tony Azzi's advice for GPs getting started with skin cancer surgery.

Watch the video with Dr Tony Azzi

Dr Tony Azzi — who is a primary care skin cancer surgeon and an expert instructor for HealthCert's skin cancer surgery workshops — says, "When starting out with skin cancer surgery, many GPs want to learn complicated flaps and other complex procedures. But you might only use those complex flaps and grafts once a year.

"They are appropriate for specific situations, but there are other surgical techniques you can learn instead which may be more appropriate.

"It is better to be a master of a couple of flaps rather than knowing a little bit about all the flaps. You're better off learning a couple of basic flaps that can be applied anywhere and everywhere.

"I usually start with checking your surgical skills. Once your suturing and aseptic techniques are perfect, then you can move on to doing ellipses, and the best place to start is on the trunk.

"Then you can start learning a couple of little flaps and perform procedures on other parts of the body. Once you've mastered those, you get to a point
where you can just read about a flap in a journal and say, 'Oh yeah, I can do that.' And you apply it.

"And the reason you can do it is because the foundation of your surgical technique is perfect."

Learn more from Dr Tony Azzi

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