Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., with more than 500,000 new cases diagnosed each year. When a skin cancer is diagnosed, it is almost always removed surgically by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Depending on the size and scope of the skin cancer, reconstructive surgery with a plastic surgeon may be necessary.
Types
There are three types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common and least deadly skin cancer, while melanoma is the least common and most deadly.
Minor Removals
Small cancers can usually be removed in a dermatologist's office, using local anesthesia and leaving small, barely noticeable scars that require no follow up with a plastic surgeon.
Major removals
If a skin cancer is large or if it has penetrated deeply into the skin or spread to other areas, major surgery may be required. In this case, surgery may be performed by a plastic surgeon, possibly under general anesthesia.
Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery is a specialized technique in which a specially trained plastic surgeon or dermatologist shaves off the skin cancer, layer by layer. According to the American College of Mohs Surgery, this technique has the highest success rate of all skin cancer treatments, minimizes the chance of regrowth of the tumor and lessens the potential for scarring and disfigurement.
Reconstructive Surgery
Removal of a skin cancer, especially a large one, can leave unsightly scars and even disfigurement. Plastic surgeons can perform reconstructive surgery ranging from simple scar revisions to skin grafts to alleviate these side effects of skin cancer treatment.
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