Skin Cancer Surgery

Who needs skin cancer surgery?

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in the United States each year. Anyone who has previously had skin cancer, or even a precancerous lesion, should be monitored very closely for future skin cancers. Dermatologists and primary care physicians can treat many small skin cancers, but larger spots as well as those in aesthetically sensitive areas such as the face may require cosmetic surgery/reconstruction.
We are always happy to evaluate a worrisome skin lesion. Then, as appropriate, we can monitor, biopsy, or remove and repair the area of concern.

Your skin cancer treatment starts with a consultation

Before having a skin malignancy removed, you will meet with a physician for a detailed exam and to discuss surgery options. Our team will work to ensure that you are well informed about the procedure, from preparations you can take to what to expect from recovery.

Skin cancer surgery techniques

The technique used to remove skin cancer will depend on the type, size, and location of the lesion.

For a smaller spot that has not penetrated additional skin layers, we simply excise the cancerous tissue and then stitch the skin back together.

For low risk basal cell and squamous cell cancers, we use a small surgical blade to shave off the cancerous layers of skin. We then apply ointment or cauterise the wound to stop the bleeding.

Many skin cancers on the face are excised through Mohs surgery. This procedure begins with removing visible tumors on the skin’s surface, then removing additional layers one at a time and examining them under a microscope to detect remaining cancer cells. This process continues until all traces of cancer have been eliminated from the area being treated. Once all cancerous tissue has been removed, we reconstruct that area. This team approach with the dermatologist and plastic surgeon optimizes the ultimate outcome from both cancer and aesthetic perspective, and has been found to be 99% effective in permanently removing cancer cells.

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What is recovery like after skin cancer surgery?

Recovery will depend on how deep your cancer has spread, and on the type of reconstruction performed. For most Mohs surgery cases, patients can expect to need 1-3 days of rest. There will be some soreness in the treated area, and it will take from 2-4 weeks for the area to fully heal. Most patients are able to resume a non-strenuous home schedule on the day of surgery and return to strenuous activity levels in 8 weeks.

It’s essential to keep the wound clean and covered with a bandage or dressing to prevent infection and minimize scarring. Sun protection should become a regular part of your daily life from this point forward.