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Minor Procedures, Injections & Pain Relief

Minor procedures, injections and pain relief: stitching and abscess drainage, removal of moles, cysts and lipomas, joint and trigger-point injections, nerve blocks and radiofrequency treatment for pain, casting, ear wax removal, and a range of other clinic-based procedures.

This page lists all 25 of them in the guide. Open any procedure for preparation, step-by-step what happens, recovery advice and frequently asked questions.

Acupuncture and dry needling (clinical context)Acupuncture and dry needling (clinical context)Minor Procedures & PainBotox for chronic migraineBotox for chronic migraineMinor Procedures & PainCasting and splinting for fracturesCasting and splinting for fracturesMinor Procedures & PainCryotherapy for skin lesions (seborrheic keratoses, actinic keratoses)Cryotherapy for skin lesions (seborrheic keratoses, actinic keratoses)Minor Procedures & PainEar grommet insertion (myringotomy with tubes)Ear grommet insertion (myringotomy with tubes)Minor Procedures & PainEar wax removal (microsuction / irrigation)Ear wax removal (microsuction / irrigation)Minor Procedures & PainFrenuloplasty / frenotomy (tongue-tie division)Frenuloplasty / frenotomy (tongue-tie division)Minor Procedures & PainGastric band adjustments and other minor proceduresGastric band adjustments and other minor proceduresMinor Procedures & PainIncision and drainage (I&D) of an abscessIncision and drainage (I&D) of an abscessMinor Procedures & PainIngrowing toenail surgery (partial nail avulsion)Ingrowing toenail surgery (partial nail avulsion)Minor Procedures & PainJoint injection (corticosteroid / hyaluronic acid)Joint injection (corticosteroid / hyaluronic acid)Minor Procedures & PainMole removal (excision)Mole removal (excision)Minor Procedures & PainNasal cautery for nosebleedsNasal cautery for nosebleedsMinor Procedures & PainNerve blocks for chronic pain (including facet joint and epidural)Nerve blocks for chronic pain (including facet joint and epidural)Minor Procedures & PainProstate massage and pelvic floor physiotherapyProstate massage and pelvic floor physiotherapyMinor Procedures & PainRadiofrequency denervation (RFA) for facet joint painRadiofrequency denervation (RFA) for facet joint painMinor Procedures & PainRemoval of foreign bodies (ear, nose, eye, skin)Removal of foreign bodies (ear, nose, eye, skin)Minor Procedures & PainShave biopsy of skin lesionsShave biopsy of skin lesionsMinor Procedures & PainSkin lesion excision (cysts, lipomas, dermatofibromas)Skin lesion excision (cysts, lipomas, dermatofibromas)Minor Procedures & PainSuturing (stitches) for cuts and woundsSuturing (stitches) for cuts and woundsMinor Procedures & PainTattoo and lesion removal by laser (dermatology)Tattoo and lesion removal by laser (dermatology)Minor Procedures & PainTrigger point injectionsTrigger point injectionsMinor Procedures & PainVascular access: PICC line insertionVascular access: PICC line insertionMinor Procedures & PainWart and verruca treatment (cryotherapy / curettage)Wart and verruca treatment (cryotherapy / curettage)Minor Procedures & PainWound debridementWound debridementMinor Procedures & Pain
Procedure / testCategoryWhat it is
Acupuncture and dry needling (clinical context)Minor Procedures & PainAcupuncture inserts very fine needles at defined points for pain and symptom management; dry needling targets myofascial trigger points. Both are used as adjuncts in chronic pain care, headache and musculoskeletal problems, usually within physiotherapy or pain clinics.
Botox for chronic migraineMinor Procedures & PainBotulinum toxin (Botox) is licensed for preventing chronic migraine in adults — meaning headaches on 15 or more days a month, with at least eight being migraine days — when other preventives have not worked or are not tolerated. It is given as a series of small injections in the head and neck every 12 weeks.
Casting and splinting for fracturesMinor Procedures & PainCasting and splinting immobilise a broken or injured bone or joint while it heals. A splint supports without fully encircling (useful when swelling is expected); a full cast encircles the limb and is applied once swelling settles. Modern casts use fibreglass (light, water-tolerant) or traditional plaster of Paris.
Cryotherapy for skin lesions (seborrheic keratoses, actinic keratoses)Minor Procedures & PainCryotherapy freezes benign or precancerous skin lesions with liquid nitrogen: seborrheic keratoses (warty age-related growths), actinic keratoses (rough sun-damage patches that can rarely progress), and some other small lesions.
Ear grommet insertion (myringotomy with tubes)Minor Procedures & PainGrommets (ventilation tubes) are tiny tubes inserted through the eardrum after a small cut (myringotomy) to let air into the middle ear, equalise pressure, drain fluid and prevent recurrent infections. They are commonly used in children with persistent glue ear.
Ear wax removal (microsuction / irrigation)Minor Procedures & PainEar wax removal clears impacted wax causing hearing loss, discomfort, a blocked feeling, ringing, or preventing examination of the eardrum. Microsuction (gentle suction under a microscope) is the most widely used clinic method; irrigation (flushing with warm water) and manual removal with instruments are alternatives.
Frenuloplasty / frenotomy (tongue-tie division)Minor Procedures & PainA frenotomy divides the thin band (lingual frenulum) under the tongue in babies with tongue-tie (ankyloglossia) when it interferes with feeding; a frenuloplasty is a more formal release and repair used in older children or adults with significant restriction.
Gastric band adjustments and other minor proceduresMinor Procedures & PainThis page covers minor procedures in bariatric follow-up: gastric band adjustments (adding or removing saline through the port under the skin to tighten or loosen an adjustable gastric band), which are the routine follow-up of band surgery.
Incision and drainage (I&D) of an abscessMinor Procedures & PainIncision and drainage (I&D) opens a skin abscess — a walled-off collection of pus — and lets it drain. It is the main treatment for a formed abscess; antibiotics alone usually cannot penetrate the pus collection.
Ingrowing toenail surgery (partial nail avulsion)Minor Procedures & PainSurgery for an ingrowing toenail removes the offending edge (and sometimes a wedge of the nail bed) to stop the nail piercing the surrounding skin. A chemical (phenol) is often applied to the nail bed to prevent that edge regrowing — the most reliable lasting treatment for recurrent cases.
Joint injection (corticosteroid / hyaluronic acid)Minor Procedures & PainA joint injection places medicine directly into a joint space: corticosteroid to dampen inflammation (for arthritis flare or bursitis), or hyaluronic acid (a joint-lubricant preparation) mainly for knee osteoarthritis. Injections are often ultrasound-guided to confirm placement.
Mole removal (excision)Minor Procedures & PainMole removal by excision cuts out a mole (and usually a small margin of normal skin) under local anaesthetic and sends it to the laboratory — the diagnostic standard when a mole looks suspicious or when removal is requested for medical reasons.
Nasal cautery for nosebleedsMinor Procedures & PainNasal cautery seals a bleeding blood vessel inside the nose, usually at the front of the nasal septum (Little's area), using a chemical (silver nitrate stick) or an electric/heat cautery device, often under endoscopic view.
Nerve blocks for chronic pain (including facet joint and epidural)Minor Procedures & PainNerve blocks for chronic pain place local anaesthetic (sometimes with steroid) near a nerve or joint to reduce pain and help diagnosis — for example facet joint injections (small spinal joints in back pain), medial branch blocks (the nerves supplying those joints), epidural steroid injections (space around the spinal cord for leg pain from disc or stenosis), and peripheral nerve blocks.
Prostate massage and pelvic floor physiotherapyMinor Procedures & PainPelvic floor physiotherapy is a non-surgical treatment for urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse symptoms, chronic pelvic pain and recovery after prostate surgery. It involves assessment of the pelvic floor muscles and a supervised exercise programme, sometimes with biofeedback or electrical stimulation.
Radiofrequency denervation (RFA) for facet joint painMinor Procedures & PainRadiofrequency denervation uses heat from a needle electrode to temporarily disable the small nerves (medial branches) that carry pain from facet joints in the neck or back. It is usually offered after diagnostic blocks confirm that the facet joint is the pain source.
Removal of foreign bodies (ear, nose, eye, skin)Minor Procedures & PainForeign bodies are removed from ears, noses, eyes and skin in clinic or emergency care using instruments under direct vision, suction, magnets (for some metal objects), or gentle irrigation — the method depends on the object and location.
Shave biopsy of skin lesionsMinor Procedures & PainA shave biopsy removes a raised skin lesion by shaving it off flush with the skin surface using a scalpel blade, under local anaesthetic, and sends the specimen for laboratory examination. No stitches are needed.
Skin lesion excision (cysts, lipomas, dermatofibromas)Minor Procedures & PainMinor surgical excision removes common benign lumps — epidermoid (sebaceous) cysts, lipomas (fatty lumps) and other skin lesions — through a small cut under local anaesthetic. The lump is dissected out and the wound stitched; the specimen is usually sent to the laboratory.
Suturing (stitches) for cuts and woundsMinor Procedures & PainSuturing closes a cut with stitches so the skin edges heal together, used when a wound is deep, gaping, on a cosmetically important area, or likely to keep bleeding. Alternatives for suitable wounds include adhesive strips (Steri-Strips), tissue glue, or staples.
Tattoo and lesion removal by laser (dermatology)Minor Procedures & PainLaser removal uses short pulses of laser light matched to the target colour to break tattoo pigment (or pigmented lesions) into particles the body clears gradually. It is the standard method for unwanted tattoos and some benign pigmented lesions.
Trigger point injectionsMinor Procedures & PainA trigger point injection places a small amount of local anaesthetic (sometimes with corticosteroid) into a tight, tender knot in a muscle — a trigger point — to relax it and relieve local and referred muscle pain.
Vascular access: PICC line insertionMinor Procedures & PainA PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) is a long, thin tube inserted through a vein in the upper arm and advanced so its tip sits in a large vein near the heart. It provides reliable access for weeks to months of intravenous antibiotics, chemotherapy, fluids or nutrition.
Wart and verruca treatment (cryotherapy / curettage)Minor Procedures & PainWarts (including verrucae on the soles) are treated with cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen freezing), curettage (scraping), acids, or minor excision. Freezing is the most common clinic treatment and works by destroying the wart tissue so the body can clear the virus.
Wound debridementMinor Procedures & PainWound debridement removes dead or infected tissue (slough, necrosis) and biofilm from a wound so healthy healing can proceed. Methods include sharp debridement (scissors/scalpel by a trained clinician), autolytic dressings, larval (maggot) therapy, enzymatic agents and mechanical pads.
Please note: This page is educational information about a medical procedure or test. It does not replace the instructions of your own care team, who know your situation and whose preparation, fasting and medication advice you should follow if it differs from anything here. If you have symptoms that worry you, or an appointment you do not understand, contact your clinical team.