If your doctor identifies a skin cancer, an excision may be necessary to remove the cancer. This is typically referred to as skin cancer surgery or a skin cancer excision. Surgical excisions can be used to treat melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. This procedure is conveniently performed in our office using a local anesthetic. After the skin cancer is removed, your dermatology surgeon will close the incision with stitches, which are removed approximately two weeks later.