Specialist Mohs surgery on the eyelid by Consultant Plastic Surgeon Miss Rakhee Nayar. The repair is planned to protect how the eyelid opens, closes and looks, as part of the same procedure.
Women in the UK dual-trained in Mohs and plastic surgery
of 36 patients would recommend Miss Nayar (PHIN, September 2026)
Specialist care for the eyelid
Specialised Mohs Surgery on the Eyelid
The eyelid is thin, delicate and essential to protecting the eye. Every millimetre affects how the lid closes, how the lashes sit and how the eye is kept moist.
Miss Rakhee Nayar is one of fewer than 10 women in the UK dual-trained in both plastic surgery and Mohs micrographic surgery. She removes the cancer, checks every margin under the microscope and repairs the eyelid herself, with function and appearance in mind from the start.
A delicate site
Why is Mohs Surgery Used on the Eyelid?
Basal cell carcinoma on the lower eyelid is the most common eyelid skin cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma also occurs, though less often.
There is almost no spare tissue on an eyelid. The lid margin, the lashes and the channel that drains tears sit within a few millimetres of each other.
Standard excision removes the cancer with a fixed margin of healthy tissue. On the eyelid, that extra margin can affect how the lid closes and protects the eye.
Mohs micrographic surgery removes only the tissue that is actually involved, which is one of the main reasons it is recommended for this site.
It removes the cancer while keeping as much healthy skin as possible.
Miss Rakhee Nayar removes the cancer layer by layer, checking each one under the microscope while you wait.
Further tissue is taken only where the microscope shows cancer remains, so the lid margin and lashes are preserved wherever possible.
A smaller wound is simpler to repair, which makes it easier to keep the eyelid working normally.
Every margin checked
What Makes Mohs Surgery Suited to the Eyelid?
Mohs surgery combines removal and microscope checking in one procedure. Each layer is mapped and examined before any more tissue is taken.
With standard excision, the tissue is sent away and the result comes back days later. With Mohs, the margins are confirmed clear before your wound is repaired.
Complete Margin Examination
The whole edge of each layer is examined under the microscope while you wait, so the result is known before the repair begins.
Tissue Sparing
Only the tissue that contains cancer is removed, preserving the lid margin, lashes and underlying structures wherever possible.
Repair on the Same Day
For most patients, once the margins are clear, the eyelid is repaired in the same visit. Some larger repairs are done in stages.
Eye Protection First
The repair is planned so the eyelid can open, close and protect the eye once it has healed.
Clinical background
Why Choose Miss Rakhee Nayar for Eyelid Skin Cancer?
Who treats a skin cancer on your eyelid matters for how well the eye is protected and how it looks afterwards. With over 20 years of surgical experience, Miss Rakhee Nayar brings training in both skin cancer surgery and plastic surgery to the same operation.
Reconstructive Training
Miss Nayar is one of fewer than 10 women in the UK dual-trained in both plastic surgery and Mohs micrographic surgery.
On the eyelid, that matters. Repairs range from a simple closure or skin graft to multi-layered reconstruction for larger or full-thickness wounds. Planning the repair is part of the same consultation as planning the cancer removal.
The Dual-Specialist Advantage
This combination means the person who removes your cancer is the same person who plans and carries out the repair. Miss Nayar is accredited as both a Consultant Plastic Surgeon and a Mohs surgeon.
- Cancer removal with every margin checked
- Repair planned around how the eyelid works
- One consultant from consultation to follow-up
- Plastic surgery training (FRCS Plast)
Training and Appointments
Miss Nayar is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and sees private patients at Fairfield Independent Hospital and Circle Cheshire Clinic.
- She chairs the Mohs Surgery Training Interface Group (JCST), the national committee for Mohs fellowship training in the UK.
- She holds an MBChB with Honours and an MD from the School of Cancer Studies at the University of Liverpool.
- She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS Plast) and holds the European Board of Hand Surgery Diploma (EBHS).
- She is an active member of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) and the British Medical Association.
Specialised care
Eyelid Conditions and Locations Treated
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
The Lower Eyelid
The Upper Eyelid
The Inner Corner of the Eye
Request an e-Consultation
Miss Nayar offers a convenient e-Consultation service for patients seeking a specialist opinion from across the UK and overseas. This secure digital pathway enables remote assessment of skin lesions and concerns, providing a prompt clinical recommendation.
It is an ideal first step for those considering Mohs surgery or reconstruction before travelling for an in-person appointment.
State-of-the-art technique
Mohs Surgery on the Eyelid Procedure
Many patients ask whether the procedure will be uncomfortable. Miss Rakhee Nayar uses a gentle, step-by-step approach so you stay comfortable and know what is happening throughout.
Years of surgical experience
Will I feel any pain? The eyelid is numbed with local anaesthetic, so you stay awake but should not feel pain during removal or repair. The eye itself is protected with a shield while the surgeon works.
The anaesthetic is given slowly to keep it as comfortable as possible, and it can be topped up at any stage if you feel anything.
Once the skin is numb, the visible cancer is removed with a thin layer of surrounding tissue, which is mapped and sent to the laboratory on site.
While you wait, the tissue is processed and examined under the microscope to check whether any cancer remains at the edges.
Each stage is explained as it happens, and the repair begins only once the margins are confirmed clear.
Protecting the eye
Reconstructive Procedure after Mohs Surgery on the Eyelid
Removing the cancer is the first goal. The second is a repair that lets the eyelid protect the eye and look natural. Miss Rakhee Nayar chooses the repair to suit the size and depth of the wound and which part of the eyelid is involved.
Direct Closure
Small wounds can often be closed with fine stitches placed along the natural creases of the eyelid.
Skin Grafts
Where there is not enough loose skin, a thin piece of skin, often from the upper eyelid or behind the ear, is placed over the wound.
Local Flaps
Neighbouring skin can be moved across to cover the wound while keeping its own blood supply, giving a close match in thickness and colour.
Staged Repairs
Larger lower-lid wounds may need a repair in two operations a few weeks apart, with the eye closed between them. Miss Nayar explains each stage before you decide.
Getting back to normal
Recovery and Long-Term Results
Once the cancer has been removed and the area repaired, the focus moves to healing. Miss Rakhee Nayar gives you a clear aftercare plan and sees you again to check the repair.
- Bruising around the eye often looks dramatic in the first week, then fades quickly.
- Cold compresses help in the first day or two.
- Stitches near the eye usually come out within about a week.
- Avoid rubbing the area or wearing eye make-up until the wound has healed.
- If the eye is padded after surgery you must not drive that day, so arrange a lift home.
- Most people are comfortable in public within a fortnight. Protect the area from the sun while the scar matures.
In Patients' Words
Patients Feedback
What Our Patients Say
Concerned About Skin Cancer?
Book a Specialist Assessment
Early assessment usually means a smaller operation and a simpler repair. Contact Miss Rakhee Nayar’s clinic for an assessment by a consultant dual-trained in Mohs and plastic surgery.
or Call Us Now
07740 306144
Circle cheshire Clinic
The Courtyard, Hall Ln, Wincham, Northwich CW9 6DG, United Kingdom
07740 306144
contact@mohssurgeon.co.uk
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Where to See Miss Nayar
Miss Rakhee Nayar provides specialist Mohs and reconstructive surgery at Circle Health Cheshire Clinic. This modern, private facility offers expert care in a discreet environment for patients across Cheshire and the North West.
Frequently Asked Questions
We're Always Here to Help You
Is Mohs surgery suitable so close to the eye?
Yes, and it is one of the main reasons Mohs is recommended here. The eye is protected with a shield during surgery, and the technique removes as little tissue as possible, which matters on an eyelid where every millimetre affects how the lid closes.
Will my vision be affected?
The surgery does not involve the eye itself. Swelling and bruising can partly close the eye for a few days, which looks worse than it feels and settles quickly.
Can I drive home afterwards?
Not if the eye is padded after surgery. Arrange for someone to take you home, and do not drive until the team confirm it is sensible.
Will I be awake for the surgery?
Yes. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic, so you stay awake and can talk to the team throughout. It also avoids the need for a general anaesthetic.
How long will the surgery take?
It depends on how many layers are needed, which cannot be known in advance. Plan to be at the clinic for at least half a day. Larger or more complex cancers can take longer.
Will Mohs reconstruction leave a scar?
All surgery leaves a scar. Miss Nayar’s plastic surgery training shapes the repair: she places scars along the natural creases of the eyelid where possible, so they settle well over time.