Richard Zinn

Richard Zinn is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon with a special interest in breast and cosmetic surgery.
1 Verona Lane 3002 Melbourne, Victoria
Phone: (03) 8658 6655

Skin Cancer

Procedure: Skin cancer management
Indication: Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma. Management of various other more rare cancers of the skin
Duration: Variable depending on the skin lesion, extent and reconstructive modality
Associated procedures: Cauterisation, liquid nitrogen, shave biopsy, punch biopsy, sentinel lymph node biopsy
Anaesthesia: Local, local and sedation, general anaesthesia
Reconstructive modalities: Primary closure, split and full thickness skin graft, local, regional and distant flaps, and free flap reconstruction
Length of hospital stay: Variable. Day case to multiday stay
Recovery: One – three weeks depending on extent of disease

Australia’s population has some of the highest incidence of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer in the world. Lesions may present at various stages of development and a plastic surgeon needs to be able to manage the smallest to the most complex of lesions.

Dr. Zinn has extensive experience in the management of skin cancer. He is appointed at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre where he attends the combined skin cancer clinic and operates on complex skin cancer cases.

Dr. Zinn’s philosophy on skin cancer is primarily to focus on cure. Thereafter, reconstruction needs to be aesthetic, offering cosmetic techniques to solve reconstructive problems. He has particular interest in facial cancer reconstruction, especially nasal and eyelid reconstruction.

An initial consultation may include a biopsy of the lesion to understand its specific biology. It will also include a full clinical history and examination to understand the patient’s individual parameters. Some lesions may be easily removed in the clinic environment, however, skin cancer of greater complexity is removed and reconstructed in the operating theatre. Depending on both patient factors and the extent of the disease, local anaesthetic with sedation or general anaesthetic may be performed.

All resected tumours are sent for pathological examination and confirmation of clear margins. Close clinical follow up is encouraged as data shows the incidence of new and recurrent tumours are high following the removal of confirmed skin cancers.