Skin cancers can occur in different forms, requiring an individualized treatment approach in each case. More invasive treatments may be necessary in certain types of skin cancers, while others can be treated with a conservative surgical approach.
The surgeon’s goal will be to ensure complete removal of the cancerous tissue, while minimizing the impact on the cosmetic appearance of the treated area. Standout board certified dermatologist and fellowship trained Mohs surgeon Dr. Jamie McGinness provides skin cancer treatments to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other neighborhoods and towns in this part of the nation.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery
Mohs micrographic surgery may be an ideal treatment option for skin cancers on the head and neck. Candidates typically have the cancer in a large area or the cancer is poorly defined or recurrent. The procedure in Mohs surgery involves precise removal of cancerous tissue layers until all the cancer cells are eliminated. Each removed layer is closely evaluated under a microscope, and layer removal is continued until no cancer cells are detected.
The advantage with Mohs surgery is that it allows 100 percent of the surgical margin to be microscopically examined. The high precision method involved in this procedure ensures minimal damage to healthy, non-cancerous tissue. Mohs surgery can be performed in-office, without any need for general anesthesia.
The procedure often requires several hours to complete because a detailed tissue analysis consumes a considerable amount of time for each tissue layer. Mohs surgery may cause superficial as well as structural damage to the affected area, which can be addressed with surgical reconstruction.
Excisional Surgery
Abnormal skin lesions can usually be excised in the surgeon’s office using local anesthesia. Shave removal technique in excisional surgery may be applied to remove raised growths, such as raised moles. A very sharp razor will be used along the skin surface to remove the growth.
Snip excision technique is also used for raised lesions, such as skin tags. The surgeon will firmly secure the growth using a pair of forceps, and pull it away from the body in a gentle way. A small set of curved scissors will lightly snip away the growth, cutting both under and around the region.
Full excision may be used for growths that have penetrated the deeper levels of the dermis or tumors that are malignant, such as in the case of melanoma.
Reconstructive Surgery
A surgery to remove skin cancer will typically be followed by a reconstruction procedure to repair the wound. Reconstruction may be needed in both Mohs surgery and excisional surgery cases. In a few cases, the surgeon may allow the surgical defect to heal on its own, while in many instances a straight line of stitches is all that may be required.
But in cases where lesions are removed from areas with little surrounding tissue, especially areas such as the nose and ear, straight line stitches may not work. In such cases, the surgeon may apply skin grafting, flaps, or other reconstructive techniques to repair the surgical defect.
Salient, committed, and board certified dermatologist Dr. McGinness receives patients for skin cancer treatment from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other places across the horizon in this amazing country.
If you would like to learn more about procedures and treatments at Metro East Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center by Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jamie L. McGinness please contact us here or call (618) 622-SKIN (7546)
Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis, Shiloh, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.