Skin Cancer Treatment

Surgeons regularly treat both cancerous and non-cancerous growths and problems with the supporting structures beneath the skin.

Tumors, both cancerous and benign, vary widely in type, severity and recurrence.  The removal method chosen will depend largely on the type of growth, what stage it's in, and its location on the body.

Skin cancers and growths are usually removed by excision and closure, in which the growth is simply removed completely with a scalpel, leaving a small thin scar.  If the cancer is large or spreading, major surgery may be necessary, using flaps to reconstruct the affected area. 

The different techniques used in treating skin cancers can be life saving, but they may leave a patient with less than pleasing cosmetic or functional results.  Depending on the location and severity of the cancer, the consequences may range from a small but unsightly scar to permanent changes in facial structures such as your nose, ear, or lip.

In such cases, no matter who performs the initial treatment, the plastic surgeon can be an important part of the treatment team.  Reconstructive techniques ranging from a simple scar revision to a complex transfer of tissue flaps (flap surgery) from elsewhere on the body can often repair damaged tissue, rebuild body parts, and restore most patients to acceptable appearance and function. 

Please ask your doctor for further information.

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