Prof. Dr. Turgay Çelikel
OncologyVerified
- 47+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Cancer Surgery
Melanoma surgery
What melanoma surgery involves, how wide local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy work, what the evidence says about outcomes by stage, approximate costs in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany, what recovery looks like week by week, the main risks and how to choose an oncology team for treatment abroad.
A written plan with the surgeon's name and the full price — usually within 24 hours.
- Category
- Cancer Surgery
- Hospitals
- 2
- Verified
- 1
- Price from
- Price on request
Verified surgeons for Melanoma Surgery
1 doctor Compare doctors, ratings and prices — ask any of them for a free quote.
Melanoma surgery in Turkey: what it is and how it works
Melanoma surgery is the primary treatment for melanoma, a skin cancer that develops from pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. The standard operation is a wide local excision: the surgeon removes the melanoma along with a margin of normal skin around it. The width of that margin — typically 0.5 cm to 2 cm — is set by the thickness of the tumour (the Breslow thickness), following guidelines from bodies such as the British Association of Dermatologists and the European Society for Medical Oncology. Thicker or higher-stage tumours require wider margins and may need reconstruction with a skin graft or flap to close the wound. Turkey's oncology hospitals follow the same staging system (AJCC TNM) and excision protocols used across Europe.
This guide explains what melanoma surgery involves at each stage, what the evidence says about outcomes, what it costs compared with the UK, US and Germany, and what to look for when choosing a surgical team. For the wider range of cancer procedures available see our oncology treatments in Turkey page.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy: when is it needed and what does it show?
For melanomas thicker than 0.8 mm, or thinner ones with features that increase risk (ulceration, high mitotic rate), surgeons recommend a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) at the same time as the wide excision. A radioactive tracer and blue dye are injected near the tumour; they travel to the first lymph node that drains the area — the sentinel node. The surgeon removes that node and sends it to pathology. If it contains melanoma cells, the finding influences decisions about further lymph node surgery and adjuvant (follow-on) treatment such as immunotherapy or targeted therapy. SLNB does not change survival on its own but it is a critical staging tool that shapes the whole treatment plan. When the sentinel node is clear, further lymph node removal is rarely required.
What does the evidence say about melanoma surgery outcomes?
Surgery is the only curative treatment for early-stage melanoma, and the evidence is strong: five-year survival for stage I melanoma (thin, localised) exceeds 95% in large registry studies, including those published by Cancer Research UK and the American Cancer Society. For stage II (thicker, still localised) the range is roughly 65–90% depending on substage. Stage III melanoma, where lymph nodes are involved, varies widely (40–85%) and is where adjuvant therapies such as PD-1 inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab) have shown the most meaningful improvement in recent trials.
Surgery alone does not prevent recurrence in higher stages; it removes the primary tumour and known local spread, but the oncology team must decide on adjuvant treatment based on pathology results, genomic profiling and national guidelines. A trustworthy surgical team presents you with a full multidisciplinary plan — not surgery alone — when your stage requires it.
Melanoma surgery cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges and do not represent any single hospital's price. The actual cost depends on the stage of disease, whether SLNB is performed, the need for skin grafting or flap reconstruction, the duration of the hospital stay and what the package includes.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €2,500 – €8,000 |
| United Kingdom | €6,000 – €18,000 |
| United States | €8,000 – €25,000 |
| Germany | €7,000 – €20,000 |
What drives the price: the stage and size of the melanoma (a simple excision of a thin lesion costs far less than a wide excision with SLNB and reconstruction), the need for skin graft or flap, the number of nights in hospital, the pathology and genomic testing required, and whether a plastic surgeon assists with wound closure. A written package should itemise the surgical fee, anaesthetist, histopathology, hospital stay, medication and airport transfers. Ask for it before paying any deposit, and confirm it covers a complication stay if one arises. You can request a free written quote that includes a breakdown by line item.
Who is — and who is not — a good candidate for melanoma surgery abroad?
Surgery is indicated for any patient with a confirmed or strongly suspected primary melanoma. The question for treatment abroad is whether the timing and logistics are safe. You are generally a suitable candidate for travelling to Turkey for melanoma surgery if your disease is stage I or II, your general health allows surgery and a short flight, and you have a full diagnostic work-up (dermoscopy, biopsy report, imaging if required) so the team can plan your operation before you arrive.
You should not delay surgery to arrange travel if your tumour is growing quickly or if staging shows stage III or IV disease requiring urgent systemic treatment alongside surgery. Patients who are medically unfit for general anaesthesia, who have active infection, serious cardiovascular disease or uncontrolled diabetes will need clearance from their home physician first. For complex stage III cases involving extensive lymph node dissection or immediate reconstruction, discuss with your oncologist whether a multidisciplinary team abroad can safely continue your care on return.
The melanoma surgery procedure step by step
The sequence below covers a typical wide local excision with sentinel lymph node biopsy:
- Pre-operative assessment: blood tests, ECG, imaging (CT, PET-CT or ultrasound depending on stage), anaesthetic review and a review of your biopsy slides by the hospital pathologist.
- Lymphoscintigraphy: on the morning of surgery, a nuclear medicine technician injects a radioactive tracer near the scar or biopsy site and takes images to map the draining lymph nodes.
- Anaesthesia: most cases use general anaesthesia; small, thin tumours may be done under local anaesthesia with sedation. Duration ranges from about 45 minutes for a simple excision to 2–3 hours when reconstruction is needed.
- Wide local excision: the surgeon marks the margin around the tumour or biopsy scar and excises the full thickness of skin and subcutaneous tissue down to, but not usually including, the deep fascia.
- Sentinel node removal: guided by the gamma probe and blue dye, the surgeon removes the sentinel node(s) through a separate small incision in the axilla, groin or neck.
- Wound closure: direct closure where possible; a split-thickness skin graft (taken from the thigh) or a local flap when the defect is large.
- Histopathology: the specimen and node are sent to the laboratory; results usually take 5–10 working days and determine the need for further surgery or adjuvant treatment.
Trip length and recovery milestones
For a straightforward wide excision without SLNB most patients stay four to five nights; with SLNB or a skin graft plan for seven to ten nights so the surgeon can inspect the wound and graft before you fly. The first days after surgery the wound is dressed and you are encouraged to move gently to reduce clot risk. Sutures or staples are removed at five to ten days depending on location and graft type.
| Week | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Wound dressing changes, some swelling and bruising, discomfort managed with simple analgesics, lymph node biopsy site may feel tight; stay close to the hospital. |
| Weeks 2–3 | Sutures removed if not done already; graft or flap begins to settle; most people return to light desk work; avoid strenuous lifting if the axilla or groin was opened. |
| Weeks 4–6 | Scar softens; walking, swimming and light exercise usually permitted; avoid sun exposure on the scar. |
| Months 2–3 | Scar matures; follow-up dermatoscopy or imaging as directed by the oncology team; adjuvant treatment starts if indicated by pathology. |
Pathology results typically arrive while you are in Turkey or shortly after you return home. The team will contact you with results and, if the sentinel node is positive or margins are involved, explain the next steps. A video consultation with the oncologist covers this if you are already home. For further context on how we coordinate follow-up care see how it works.
Realistic results: what melanoma surgery before and after looks like
The primary aim of surgery is complete removal of the tumour with clear margins — a pathological result, not a cosmetic one. When the pathologist confirms clear margins and a negative sentinel node, the operation has achieved its goal. The scar will be a linear or elliptical mark, typically 2–6 cm long, that fades over 12–18 months but does not disappear entirely. On areas such as the face, neck or lower leg the surgeon may use a flap or graft to minimise distortion; the result is a flatter, more natural contour than a pulled closure, but there will always be a visible scar. When you look at before-and-after photographs, the meaningful "after" is a healed wound with clear margins and negative nodes — not the absence of a scar. Any clinic that shows only cosmetic outcomes without discussing the oncological result is not framing the procedure correctly.
Risks and complications of melanoma surgery
All surgery carries risk. For melanoma excision the common effects are wound pain, bruising, temporary numbness around the scar and, with SLNB, a feeling of tightness or mild swelling in the limb near the operated node. Less common complications include wound infection, haematoma, delayed healing of a skin graft and seroma (fluid collection) under the flap. Lymphoedema — persistent swelling of the arm or leg — can follow complete lymph node dissection but is uncommon after SLNB alone; the NHS, ESMO and the American Academy of Dermatology all note that SLNB significantly reduces this risk compared with full dissection. Anaesthetic risks apply to all surgical procedures. If the sentinel node is positive and a full lymph node dissection is later required, the risk of lymphoedema rises. Ask the team what monitoring is in place for wound complications and who to contact after you return home.
How to choose an oncology surgeon and hospital, and red flags
Melanoma surgery should be performed by a surgical oncologist or a plastic surgeon with specific oncology training, working within a multidisciplinary team that includes a dermatologist, pathologist and medical oncologist. The hospital should have a licensed nuclear medicine department for SLNB and an on-site pathology laboratory with melanoma expertise. For procedures involving oncology in Turkey, check that the facility is accredited by the Turkish Ministry of Health and, ideally, by an international body such as JCI.
Red flags include a clinic that quotes for surgery without first reviewing your biopsy report and staging scans, a surgeon who cannot name the pathologist reviewing your specimen, no written plan for what happens if margins are involved or the node is positive, and no clear route for follow-up once you are home. Ask for the name of your surgeon and their oncology credentials before you pay anything. You can request a free written treatment plan through our quote page; the team reviews your existing reports before confirming whether surgery in Turkey is appropriate for your case. See also our lumpectomy and colon cancer removal guides for related oncology procedures handled by the same hospitals.
Questions to ask the clinic before booking:
- Which surgeon will perform my operation, and what is their specific experience with melanoma excision and SLNB?
- Does your hospital have an in-house nuclear medicine unit for lymphoscintigraphy?
- How long will histopathology results take, and how will they be communicated to me?
- What happens if my sentinel node is positive — do you offer further lymph node surgery, and is adjuvant treatment available on-site?
- What is the protocol if I develop a wound complication after returning home?
- What does the written package include, and what might add to the cost?
Conditions treated with Melanoma Surgery
Hospitals with Oncology in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Melanoma surgery is the removal of a melanoma skin tumour together with a margin of surrounding normal skin — a procedure called wide local excision. For tumours above a certain thickness a sentinel lymph node biopsy is done at the same time to check whether cancer cells have spread to nearby lymph nodes.
For stage I and many stage II melanomas, wide local excision with clear margins offers a high chance of cure; five-year survival rates exceed 95% for thin, localised tumours. At stage III or IV, surgery removes known disease but is combined with adjuvant immunotherapy or targeted therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Approximate ranges are €2,500 to €8,000 in Turkey, compared with roughly €6,000 to €18,000 in the UK. The final price depends on the stage, whether a sentinel node biopsy or skin graft is needed and the length of the hospital stay; each hospital confirms its price in a written quote.
The main outcome is a clear pathological result — complete removal with clear margins and, ideally, a negative sentinel node. The visible result is a linear or elliptical scar that fades over 12–18 months. On cosmetically sensitive areas a flap or graft improves the appearance but a scar always remains.
Most people return to light desk work within two to three weeks. Exercise resumes at four to six weeks. Patients who have had a skin graft or sentinel node biopsy take slightly longer; full scar maturation takes 12–18 months. Adjuvant treatment, if needed, begins once pathology results are confirmed.
The operation is performed under general or local anaesthesia, so there is no pain during the procedure. Afterwards there is wound soreness and tightness, particularly if a lymph node was removed; this is managed with standard analgesics and usually settles within one to two weeks.
It is a procedure done at the same time as wide excision to check the first lymph node draining the tumour site. A radioactive tracer maps the node; the surgeon removes it and sends it to pathology. If the node is clear, full lymph node removal is rarely needed. If positive, further treatment is planned.
A simple wide excision without sentinel node biopsy usually requires four to five nights. With SLNB or a skin graft, plan for seven to ten nights so the surgeon can check the wound and you can receive early pathology results before flying home.
Common effects are wound pain, bruising and temporary numbness. Less common complications include infection, haematoma, delayed graft healing and seroma. Lymphoedema (limb swelling) can follow full lymph node dissection but is uncommon after sentinel node biopsy alone; NHS and ESMO guidelines note SLNB substantially reduces this risk.
Surgery is the standard first treatment for resectable melanoma. Immunotherapy (PD-1 inhibitors) and targeted therapy (BRAF/MEK inhibitors) are used as adjuvant or palliative treatments, not as replacements for surgery in early disease. Radiotherapy may be used for specific sites or when surgery is not possible. For stage I–II melanoma, surgery remains the treatment of choice.
Patient stories