If you have been diagnosed with a cancerous mole or some other type of superficial skin cancer, there are a variety of treatments available for quick removal. Treatment varies case by case due to treatment area and severity.
What is Skin Cancer Removal?
Skin cancer removal is done when a skin growth or mark on the skin begins to show signs of an abnormality associated with skin cancer. There are a few ways that it can be done based on the depth and severity of the formation. There are a few methods that can be done to remove and prevent the cancer cells from spreading. Some cases call for a few different methods of removal and can be done on an out patient basis with little to no downtime depending on the area.
How is Skin Cancer Removal Done?
Excisional Removal
This simple procedure can be done for most types of skin cancer. First, Dr. Golosow will numb the affected area of the skin. Once numbed, the cancerous tissue is separated from the surrounding skin with a scalpel, along with a small area of healthy skin around it. This is done to make sure that all the cancerous cells are removed. This is the most common way to remove skin cancer since it the quickest and also has the least chance of scarring.
Excision with Frozen Sections
Frozen Section skin cancer removal is usually reserved for any large, or difficult to treat areas where skin cancer develops. This method is also used to treat recurring cancer in areas where it’s vital to preserve as much of the surrounding skin as possible. Dr. Golosow will “shave” the growth in thin layers with a scalpel, and then each layer is checked under a microscope for cancerous cells by a pathologist. This is done until there are no cancerous cells remaining in the removed tissue.
Results
After the removal procedure, you will need to care for the excision site just like you would a wound. Depending on the severity of the removal you may need to have stitches removed or some sort of liquid adhesive. During the healing process, it will be important to keep the area clean and dry and out of sun exposure.
If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer and are in need of an excision, contact Golosow plastic surgery today to learn more about your option for skin cancer removal.
