Clinical diagnosis and pattern recognition of any skin lesion be it macular (flat), papular (raised), or nodular (solid) can be challenging for the trainee doctor. It can be challenging not to over biopsy but still not miss a malignant lesion at the same time. In this course there will be an emphasis on decision making on lesion diagnosis through patient history and clinical signs and in some cases with the aid of technology. When a decision is made for a biopsy or definitive excision, this hands-on course will practice excision planning and wound closure for optimal healing. It will also address the lesions that will need more complex reconstruction methods of closure such as skin grafting and local flaps. All excision, knot tying and suturing practice will take place in our surgical labs on both synthetic and animal models.

Learning outcomes:

After doing this course you will:

• Increase your proficiency in knot tying and suturing techniques.
• Gain more confidence in decision making around the management of both pigmented and non-pigmented lesions.
• Improve your skills in excising a lesion with safe margins.
• Gain knowledge of when to refer to a plastic surgeon and what they will do.