The severity and appearance of skin problems vary considerably. Most can be removed or improved with minimal pain and risk in a dermatologist’s office.
Dermatologic Surgery is performed using a variety of techniques and procedures to achieve your medical or cosmetic skin goals. The technique used by the doctor will vary depending on what type of procedure is needed and can include: scalpel surgery, laser surgery, chemical surgery, cryosurgery (use of liquid nitrogen), electrosurgery, aspiration surgery, liposuction, injection of filler substances and Mohs micrographic surgery. Each of these techniques are used to either establish a diagnosis for a condition, remove benign (non-cancerous) or malignant growths and skin cancers, or are used to improve the skin’s appearance.
If a growth is found on the skin, a biopsy – or removal of part of the growth – may be performed to determine whether or not the growth is benign or malignant. Following the biopsy, the doctor will then determine a further course of action. Many benign growths such as actinic keratoses, seborrheic keratoses and moles may be removed to avoid becoming cancerous in the future. Other benign growths that are removed through a variety of Dermatologic Surgery techniques include cysts, warts and age spots. Cancerous growths may be removed by Mohs micrographic surgery, which offers a higher success rate for complete cancer eradication than other techniques.