Scar Revision, Skin Cancer Surgery, Lesions, Moles
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Many patients wonder whether certain skin lesions should be removed or checked for
cancer. It is not feasible to remove all skin lesions on every patient. There
are however, guidelines to determine whether a skin lesion is of concern. Some
patients have moles or other skin lesions that are cosmetically unacceptable and
will have these lesions removed to improve appearance. Besides cosmetic considerations,
biopsy evaluations are indicated for the following reasons: 1) a new skin lesion
that does not heal 2) a skin lesion that bleeds or ulcerates 3) a skin lesion
that is growing, thereby changing size and shape 4) a skin lesion with irregular
or blurred margins 5) a skin lesion that is hard to visually follow (i.e. a lesion
on the scalp) 6) a large lesion greater than 5mm. Your surgeon may elect to completely
remove a small lesion or obtain a partial removal of a larger lesion in order
to obtain pathological evaluation. Remember, the only way to obtain results regarding
a skin lesion's behavior and malignancy status is to obtain a specimen for microscopic
evaluation. Your physician will determine needed additional therapy if the results
of the biopsy are cancerous. Fortunately, most skin lesions are benign. It is
important however, to avoid sun exposure and tanning salons. Sunscreens and dermatological
evaluations are recommended.
Tags: Scar Revision, Skin Lesions, Mole Removal
Scar Revision:
Scar Revision: Scars
are the body's reaction to healing skin. Unfortunately, when injuries occur, the
size, shape, and location of wounds are unpredictable. Wounds heal by laying down
scar tissue. Physicians are unable to consistently predict how a patient will
heal for a given injury. Ethnic skin, such as Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and patients
of Mediterranean decent have a higher incidence of healing with hyper pigmentation.
Caucasian skin tends to heal with hypo pigmentation. Keloids are seen in all races,
but are more common in darker-skinned individuals. Keloid scars are abnormal scars
that grow beyond the boundaries of the injury. For example, a simple ear piercing
may lead to a marble size keloid. Keloid scars are difficult to treat and are
many times misdiagnosed by physicians and patients. Keep in mind, when a surgeon
performs a cosmetic procedure, scars are placed in locations that are cosmetically
acceptable, unlike traumatic wounds. It is important after appropriate cleansing
and wound care that a patient understands that a scar will continue to heal and
look its best one to two years post injury. Most physicians would not recommend
scar revision for a minimum of six months to one year after the injury/surgery.
Besides the expertise of the surgeon, to limit scarring, other factors, such as
size, location, shape, age of the patient, and healing ability play a role in
the final result. Even with scar revision, which can be performed by several techniques,
the resulting scar may be better, worse, or the same. Therefore, it is important
that the patient and the physician revise scars that are cosmetically unacceptable
and have a high probability of improvement. Scars play a role in appearance, but
can limit movement of a joint, retard growth of a child, and may be painful, bleed
or ulcerate. Scars that cause functional impairment are almost always revised.
Non-surgical treatments of scars include sun avoidance, Vitamin E, steroid applications,
steroid injections, or the use of silastic gel sheeting. It is the public's misperception
that plastic surgeons operate without producing scars. Plastic surgeons are specialized
surgeons that are trained in wound closure as to minimize scarring, and where
appropriate will place scars in locations, or in certain directions that will
leave the patient with the best possible scar. However, as previously stated,
other factors are involved when determining the patient's resultant scar.
Tags: Scar Revision, Scar Removal
Call for a complimentary consultation:
(310) 326-3636
3400 W. Lomita Blvd., Suite 306,
Torrance CA., 90505
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