Surgical Excisions

What to Know About Surgical Excisions

Many benign and malignant skin growths may need to be removed. The most common reason for a surgical procedure to be performed is for the removal of skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. However, there are many other reasons why a lesion may be removed including the need for diagnosis or lesions that are symptomatic. As well, some patients may choose to have lesions removed for purely cosmetic reasons. When a surgical procedure is necessary, there are several options.

Shave Excision

If your lesion is on the surface of your skin, your dermatologist may choose to use a shave excision, removing the skin growth from the surface of the skin with a small blade. They may apply a medicine to stop the bleeding or burn the area with a cautery, all of which will be done under the expert care of a board-certified dermatologist who will ensure your comfort through all steps of the procedure.

Scissor Excision

For raised skin lesions, a scissor excision may be performed where your skin is gently pulled up and snips are made around and under the lesion with a pair of small, curved scissors.

Will I have a scar?

Yes, like almost any form of treatment for skin cancer, there will be a scar. However, Mohs micrographic surgery preserves as much normal tissue as possible. As a result, the defect created during surgery to remove the skin cancer is as small as possible. Each repair is designed to reconstruct the unique skin cancer defect to give the smallest and least noticeable scar possible. On occasion, a multi-specialty team of doctors may be needed to work in conjunction with the Mohs surgeon to maximize the optimal result for the patient.