About Surgical Excision
Among the most common treatments for moles, skin cysts, benign skin lesions, and skin cancer is surgical excision. By using this technique, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Justin Martin will remove the lesion lesion. Dr. Martin is specifically trained to repair wounds created by skin lesion removal in all areas of the body, using techniques that minimize scarring and distortion. Call Martin Plastic Surgery in Dothan, AL to set up a private appointment to learn more about surgical excision and if it is right for you.
Reviews
Ideal Candidates
Anyone with skin cancer or an undesirable skin lesion is a candidate for excision.
Surgical Technique
Smaller lesions may be removed under local anesthesia in the office, and larger lesions or those that would require more complex wound closure techniques are performed in a hospital setting. The wounds may either be closed primarily or with a skin graft or flap.
What to Expect
The duration of your downtime and recovery depends upon the location and severity of the specific excision, in addition to whether skin grafts or flaps were needed to finish your procedure. Following your procedure, you could experience a burning feeling or general irritation in the region where the cancer was excised. For the first couple of days after the procedure, you're advised to use an over-the-counter medicine like acetaminophen to relieve pain. You should also anticipate some scarring that will be pink initially, but that will lighten with time. Various topical treatments may be applied to help lighten the scar.
Plan Your Procedure
- Recovery Time
- 1-2 weeks
- Average Procedure Time
- 0:20 - 1:00
- Post-op Follow-up
- two weeks
- Procedure Recovery Location
- Outpatient
Skilled Skin Cancer Treatment
Anytime you see a skin lesion that looks strange, you should seek medical care as quickly as possible. The lesion can be cancerous and the earlier it's found, the greater your odds of success.