Dermatology 2026

Dermatologic excision surgery is a fundamental component of outpatient dermatologic care, providing both diagnostic and therapeutic benefits for benign and malignant skin conditions. Although generally safe, excisional procedures may be associated with postoperative complications, particularly in public tertiary hospitals where patients often present with advanced disease, multiple comorbidities, and limited access to consistent postoperative follow-up. Data from low- and middle-income countries remain limited. This study aimed to describe the postoperative course of patients undergoing dermatologic excision surgery and to identify factors associated with postoperative complications in a Philippine tertiary hospital.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using hospital records from the Department of Dermatology of a tertiary hospital in the Philippines from January 2014 to January 2024. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, surgical details, and postoperative follow-up records were reviewed. Postoperative complications, including erythema, wound dehiscence, surgical site infection, and pain, were identified based on documented follow-up visits. The timing of complications and potential risk factors such as age and type of wound closure were analyzed.

Most procedures were completed without significant adverse events, confirming the overall safety of outpatient dermatologic surgery. When complications occurred, they were predominantly minor and most commonly detected between the sixth and tenth postoperative days. Older patients and those with more complex wound closures were at higher risk.

Dermatologic excision surgery is safe and well tolerated, but vigilant postoperative monitoring is essential, particularly for high-risk patients.

Nicole Therese M. Mendiola, is a third-year Dermatology resident at the National Specialty Center of Dermatology, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center,Philippines, where she currently serves as Dermatologic Surgery Chief. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. She has received multiple leadership and academic awards and has presented research at both institutional and national forums. She is deeply committed to delivering high-quality, ethical, and accessible dermatologic care, with the goal of improving skin health and surgical outcomes for Filipinos from all walks of life.