Excision of Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers
Melanoma is cancer of the cells in the skin that produce melanin, the pigment in your skin. This is considered the most severe type of skin cancer, but as long as it hasn't spread, to areas such as the eyes or internal organs, it can be removed with surgery. If the melanoma is small and thin, all of it may be excised, or cut out, during the biopsy. Otherwise, our doctors will surgically remove the cancer and a border of surrounding skin as well as a layer of tissue under the skin – just to ensure all of the cancer is gone.
This same excision technique applies to non-melanoma skin cancers, such as basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers, as well. These cancers arise from excessive sun exposure. Once detected, they can be surgically removed.
Mole Removal
We offer many different mole removal services. We can excise, or cut, your mole off without the need for stitches. On smaller, not-as-deeply-rooted moles, we can use a laser to remove them. If your mole is non-cancerous, there is no need to remove it other than aesthetic purposes. If your mole has un-even edges or you notice it is growing in size, please come in to have it biopsied. We will determine if it is cancerous and needs to be removed.
Wart Removal
We use cryotherapy to remove warts, actinic keratoses, seborrhic keratoses and other benign lesions. Using a special "cryo gun", we will spray a thin, cold mist of liquid nitrogen on the skin to remove the wart. It may also be applied using a cotton-tipped swab.
The extreme cold temperature of the liquid nitrogen kills the topmost layer of skin cells. Depending on the location of treatment, you may experience mild pain during the session; however anesthesia is rarely needed.
We may use a bandage to cover the any blister that may develop under the surface of the treated area.
Some of these skin conditions may require additional medication to be used to achieve optimum results.
It is important to note that warts aren't necessarily dangerous to your health and may fade away on its own; however, removing them will help prevent them from spreading or returning.
Tattoo Removal
There are various methods available to remove tattoos. Laser treatment is the most common method. During the procedure, various wavelengths of light are used for different the pigments. The beam of light passes through the skin. The ink absorbs it, causing it to break down, so that the tattoo can then be removed by the lymphatic system. With Deramabrasion, the tattoo is literally rubbed from the skin, over a series of treatments, using an abrasive tool. A skin graft may be needed to "level out" the surface, if the tattoo is deep.