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Surgical Dermatology

Lipoma Excisions

December 20, 2024 by michaelboache

Lipoma excision is a surgical procedure to remove a lipoma, which is a benign (non-cancerous) growth of fatty tissue that develops just beneath the skin. Lipomas are soft, slow-growing, and usually painless, although they can cause discomfort or aesthetic concerns depending on their size and location.

Characteristics of Lipomas

  • Soft and Movable: They feel rubbery and can usually be moved under the skin.
  • Painless: Most lipomas are not tender unless pressing on nerves or near sensitive areas.
  • Slow-Growing: They increase in size gradually over time.
  • Common Locations: Neck, shoulders, back, abdomen, arms, and thighs.

Reasons for Lipoma Removal

  • Cosmetic Concerns: If the lipoma is large or noticeable.
  • Pain or Discomfort: If the lipoma presses on nerves, muscles, or joints.
  • Rapid Growth: To rule out malignancy, although lipomas are rarely cancerous.
  • Mobility Issues: If the lipoma interferes with movement.
  • Uncertainty in Diagnosis: To confirm it is a benign lipoma and not a more serious condition.

Procedure Steps

  1. Preparation:
    • The area is cleaned, and local anesthesia is administered to numb the region.
    • In some cases, general anesthesia may be used for large or deep lipomas.
  2. Incision and Removal:
    • The surgeon makes an incision over the lipoma.
    • The fatty tissue is carefully separated from surrounding tissues and removed entirely.
  3. Closure:
    • The incision is closed with sutures or surgical glue, depending on its size.
    • The area is dressed to promote healing.
  4. Post-Procedure:
    • Patients receive instructions for wound care.
    • Pain relief medication may be prescribed if necessary.

Recovery

  • Healing Time: Typically 1–2 weeks for small excisions; larger ones may take longer.
  • Scarring: Minimal with proper care, but scarring depends on the size and location of the lipoma.
  • Complications: Rare, but can include infection, bleeding, or recurrence.

Considerations

  • Lipoma excision is generally a safe and straightforward outpatient procedure.
  • Removing the lipoma in its entirety reduces the risk of recurrence.
  • The excised tissue may be sent for pathological examination to confirm the diagnosis.

Cyst Excisions

December 20, 2024 by michaelboache

Cyst excision is a minor surgical procedure to remove a cyst, which is a closed sac-like structure filled with fluid, semi-solid material, or air. Cysts can develop anywhere on the body, and they are often benign (non-cancerous). However, they may be removed for medical or cosmetic reasons, especially if they become painful, infected, or unsightly.

Common Types of Cysts Treated by Excision

  1. Epidermoid Cysts: Usually found on the face, neck, or trunk.
  2. Pilar Cysts: Commonly occur on the scalp.
  3. Sebaceous Cysts: Form due to blocked sebaceous glands and are often filled with oily material.
  4. Ganglion Cysts: Found near joints, especially in the wrist.
  5. Breast Cysts: Found in breast tissue.
  6. Dermoid Cysts: May contain hair, skin, or other tissues.

Procedure Steps

  1. Preparation:
    • The area around the cyst is cleaned.
    • A local anesthetic is applied to numb the site.
  2. Excision:
    • The surgeon makes a small incision over the cyst.
    • The entire cyst, including its sac or wall, is carefully removed to prevent recurrence.
  3. Closure:
    • The incision is closed with stitches, adhesive strips, or sutures, depending on the size and location.
  4. Post-Procedure:
    • The site is bandaged, and aftercare instructions are provided.
    • Stitches may need to be removed after 7–14 days, depending on the type used.

Recovery

  • Healing Time: Typically 1–2 weeks.
  • Scarring: Minimal scarring is expected with proper care.
  • Recurrence: If the cyst’s wall is not completely removed, it may recur.

Why Remove a Cyst?

  • Pain or discomfort.
  • Infection or abscess formation.
  • Rapid growth or changes in appearance.
  • Cosmetic concerns.
  • To rule out malignancy through a biopsy.

Earlobe Repair

December 20, 2024 by michaelboache

Earlobe repair is a surgical procedure that corrects damage or deformities of the earlobe. It is commonly performed to address issues such as:

  1. Torn Earlobes: Caused by trauma, such as earrings being accidentally pulled out or heavy earrings stretching the piercing over time.
  2. Stretched Earlobes: Often due to gauged earrings or other intentional body modifications that leave the earlobe excessively stretched.
  3. Split Earlobes: When the earlobe has been completely torn into two parts, usually due to extreme stretching or an accident.
  4. Sagging or Wrinkled Earlobes: Due to aging, earlobes can lose volume and elasticity.

The Procedure

  • Preparation: The area is typically numbed with a local anesthetic.
  • Repair: The surgeon trims the edges of the tear or deformity and uses fine sutures to reconstruct the earlobe.
  • Healing: Sutures are usually removed after about a week, and the area typically heals in a few weeks.
  • Re-piercing: If desired, the earlobe can be re-pierced after full healing, usually after 2–3 months.

Earlobe repair is an outpatient procedure, relatively simple, and often performed in a clinic setting. It results in a more natural-looking earlobe, with minimal scarring in most cases.

Skin Cancer Removal

December 20, 2024 by westdermcorp

About Skin Cancer Removal

What is it?

What happens if you’ve been diagnosed with skin cancer? What are the options? What’s the likelihood of successful treatment? Our dermatology specialists understand that skin cancer can affect not only physically, but psychologically as well. We are here to provide treatment, encouragement, strength, support, and answers to all your questions should you ever receive such a diagnosis. We’ll be by your side each step of the way, from diagnosis to prognosis to treatment and aftercare support. Most importantly, know that skin cancer is very treatable. Even melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, has a 90% five-year survivability rate for patients who receive treatment.

What to expect

When it comes to skin cancer, treatment protocols typically involve one or a combination of the following treatments:

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is a minimally-invasive treatment typically used for early-stage skin cancer that has not spread. This treatment is effective for actinic keratosis, warts, and superficial basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas. During cryotherapy, the cancerous area is targeted with extremely cold liquid gas (such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide between -346° F and -320° F) that instantly freezes the cancerous tissue before destroying it. You will receive your cryotherapy treatment in the office, often as part of a regular exam. Typically, cryotherapy only takes a few moments to perform and you can return to normal activities immediately after treatment is complete.

Electrodessication and curettage (EC&D)

This simple 2-step surgical procedure is especially effective for individuals with basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma. By removing the cancerous tissue via curettage (scraping), then closing the wound by electrodesiccation (superheating process), our surgeons can safely and effectively eradicate cancerous cells from your body. EC&D is performed in the office under local anesthesia and typically takes 30 minutes or less with no downtime following the procedure. In most cases, this treatment doesn’t even require sutures! EC&D is recommended for areas of the body that are not regularly visible, such as the back or torso. It’s also an excellent option for superficial, less serious skin cancers that have yet to spread beyond ¼ to ½ inch (6-10mm) in diameter.

Excisional surgery

Excisional surgery is a minor surgical procedure that carefully removes cancerous lesions from your body before they have a chance to spread. Our dermatologists recommend this procedure for small to medium-sized moles/lesions in areas of the body typically covered by clothing. Excisional surgery is a quick in-office procedure that is usually performed with local anesthesia. Following the procedure, the removed tissue will be sent to our pathology lab to determine if it was cancerous and to see if it all the cancerous cells were removed. Excisional surgery option is a good choice if a skin lesion is affecting your appearance. A consultation with your neighborhood skin cancer specialists at our center can determine if this treatment is right for you.

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy provides a fast skin cancer treatment with minimal side effects and exceptional cosmetic outcomes. The technology is unique because it uses a miniaturized x-ray source that can be turned on or off, instead of the traditional radioactive seeds that are always emitting radiation. This means that the shielding requirements are very minimal, and your radiation therapy team is able to remain in the treatment room with you. Because it is a short procedure with minimal side effects, eBxTM is an ideal skin cancer treatment alternative for patients not interested in surgery.

After the procedure

Recovery from skin cancer removal depends on the type of treatment performed. To learn more about skin cancer recovery, please contact one of our dermatology specialists today!

Providers

Our approach & expertise

Skin cancer is our specialty. We have a variety of highly-trained and experienced skin cancer specialists who have a wide array of treatment options at their disposal. During a skin cancer consultation at our center, our dermatologists will assess your unique case and customize a treatment program suited to your particular needs.

Mole Removal

October 24, 2024 by michaelboache

Dangerous or unsightly moles can be removed from almost anywhere on the body. Mole removal is safe, effective, and virtually painless. 

What is a Mole?

A mole is a growth on the skin. Most moles are benign, but they can turn cancerous.

People can be born with moles, or they can develop moles over the course of their lives. It’s important to be aware of what moles you have and where they are located.

Although you don’t generally need to worry about moles, any changes in the mole’s appearance should be brought to the attention of your dermatologist at Southlake Dermatology. In particular, look for changes in color and/or size.

Sometimes moles can occur in areas of the body that negatively impact appearance or self-esteem, such as on the face.

Moles are detected during routine skin screenings done by our dermatologists, or you may know about a mole you’ve had your entire life. Moles may appear as you age, or a lifelong mole may change in shape, appearance, or size.

Mole removal is available, even when the mole poses no health risk.

Have a suspicious-looking mole? Our skilled dermatologists can screen the mole and your skin for malignancy concerns and discuss removal options.

What Causes Moles?

Skin moles arise when skin cells grow in clusters. These cells, known as melanocytes, are found throughout your skin and produce melanin, the pigment that colors your skin.

Various complications can result for some people who have moles, such as:

  • Having very large moles
  • Having too many moles
  • Having moles of irregular shapes or textures

When any of these complications occur, you run the risk of developing melanoma or other types of skin cancer.

To be on the safe side, any mole that you have should be examined by your Southlake Dermatology dermatologist. 

Should you have a mole that is giving you problems or has changed its size, shape, and texture recently, don’t ignore it. Contact your dermatologist at Southlake Dermatology right away to schedule a thorough examination of your skin and moles.

What is Mole Removal?

Mole removal is the process of removing benign or malignant moles for aesthetic or medical purposes.

Our dermatologists can remove dangerous or unsightly moles almost anywhere on the body. Mole removal is safe, effective, and virtually painless. The process of mole removal in a dermatologist’s office has been done for a number of decades and is FDA-approved.

What is Mole Removal Used For?

There are many situations in which a person should seek help from a dermatologist for mole removal.

Moles can be indicative of a serious skin condition, such as melanoma. Left untreated, a malignant mole can grow into a life-threatening condition that may be irreversible.

Mole removal is also used to remove unsightly benign moles. Certain moles can be disfiguring, or they can appear in unflattering areas on the body.

Types of Mole Removal

Once you and your dermatologist have agreed that mole removal is the best next step, your dermatologist will decide which type of mole removal procedure to use.

The type of mole removal will depend upon your individual circumstances, the size and nature of the mole, and the reason for the mole removal.

  • Laser therapy. A specialized laser can be used to remove benign moles. The intense, focused light beam neutralizes the cells within the mole, causing them to die and fall away. Multiple laser therapy visits may be needed for complete mole removal.
  • Shaving. Shallow moles may be removed with surgical shaving, where a scalpel is used to shave away the mole cells.
  • Excision. Surgical excision is used when a mole is deep and requires to be cut out. This procedure may also require stitches and can leave a small scar.

Am I a Candidate For Mole Removal?

Most patients can have their mole/s removed. There are few reasons why a mole cannot be removed. The main question is what kind of mole removal procedure is best for your unique circumstances.

Certain types of mole removal procedures may leave a small scar. If you are considering having a mole removed purely for esthetic reasons, you need to decide if it’s worth risking a scar in place of the mole, even if it’s a small scar.

All moles on the body should be carefully monitored. Our dermatologists at Southlake Dermatology are adept at identifying and diagnosing dangerous moles.

Request an appointment with us today!

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