Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the UK — and for most patients, surgery remains the most effective treatment. Getting it right the first time matters: the completeness of the initial excision, the quality of the reconstruction, and the experience of the surgeon performing it all directly affect outcomes.

Mr Matthew Potter is a consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon whose NHS practice is primarily dedicated to skin cancer, complex head and neck cancer, and the reconstruction of major cancer defects. He completed the final part of his surgical training as a fellow in Queensland, Australia — an area with the highest recorded incidence of skin cancer in the world — before bringing that expertise back to the UK.

He is a member of two skin cancer multidisciplinary teams in Oxford and Swindon, the Head and Neck MDT and Skull Base team in Oxford, and the Thames Valley skin cancer specialist group. He holds a position on the National CRUK skin cancer research panel and is part of an international study into improving outcomes in Merkel cell carcinoma. His excision rates for BCC and SCC exceed the national average, and his sentinel lymph node biopsy outcomes for melanoma are among the best recorded worldwide. He has presented and published extensively on all types of skin cancer.

For many patients, a skin cancer diagnosis is the first time they have needed specialist surgical care. Mr Potter’s approach is to explain clearly, assess thoroughly, and ensure every patient understands their diagnosis, their options, and what to expect — before any decision is made.