I agree that the time period does seem excessive - but I assure you it is standard practice. When my husband's biopsy came back as Melanoma, it was three weeks before he was scheduled for surgery. It could have just as well been three years. It was agonizing.
In our case - additional procedures were not discussed until after the surgery, however he did have two lymph nodes removed at the same time as the removal of the tumor (it was on his arm). This would help to determine if the cancer had spread.
Removal of the melanoma requires the attempt to get all of the affected area. In my husband's case his surgery site was aprox. 5 1/2" long and his skin was pulled so tight to close the site that he still has large dimples at each end (surgery was 10/07). We were blessed that he did not require skin grafts. I could understand the hardship it would cause if the skin around the site was healing and tender from previous treatments. My husband's site became infected, but we were able to catch it before it became serious because of watching for the redness. I don't know how I would have felt watching for infection on skin that was already compromised.
I wish you the best through out this journey, you are in my thoughts and prayers.