Skin Cancer Removal and Reconstruction

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Skin cancer is very common, affecting one in five Americans during their lifetime.  The most common type is basal cell carcinoma (BCC), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma.  Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous and aggressive of the three main subtypes, so it is critical to catch it early.  For this reason, it is important to have regular skin checks, especially if you are fair-skinned, have a history of sunburns at an early age, or have a personal or family history of skin cancer.  Skin cancers tend to occur in areas that have a history of sun exposure.  For this reason, sunscreen is the most important skin care product to have in your beauty armamentarium!

Many skin cancers (especially BCCs) occur on the face, scalp and neck, where skin is more sun-exposed, and where scars and other changes are more visible.  Careful planning can help camouflage scars in the natural folds and shadows of the face.  Sometimes reconstruction is needed following removal, which involves borrowing nearby skin.

Occasionally, a dermatologist who is trained in Mohs surgery will be asked to remove the lesion.  Mohs surgery involves removing the entire lesion, but leaving as much normal surrounding skin as possible.  This is especially helpful in sensitive areas like the lips, ears, nose, and eyelids, where every millimeter counts.

Dr. Shore is happy to remove skin cancers, moles, or pre-cancerous lesions from anywhere on the body.