Staged operations for basal cell carcinoma of the face

211 patients (88 female, 123 male, mean age 63 years) presented with 279 basal cell carcinomas (191 primary tumours, 88 recurrent tumours) in the head and neck area that were excised. The resected margins were examined microscopically and the defect repaired at a second operation. The excision margin was 1-2 mm. The recurrence rate was 3%, which is lower than is achieved by other methods, and unaffected structures are optimally conserved.