Skin Lesion Removal Surgery | The University of Kansas Health System (2024)

FAQs

Skin Lesion Removal Surgery | The University of Kansas Health System? ›

Skin lesion removal is a procedure that's performed to remove growths or other irregularities on the skin. People can have skin lesions removed for cosmetic reasons even if the lesion is benign (noncancerous). Some skin lesions can be removed during a normal office visit, while others require surgery to remove.

Most lesion removal procedures are easily done in your health care provider's office or an outpatient medical office. You may need to see your primary care provider, a skin specialist (dermatologist), or a surgeon.

Your doctor may choose this method to address skin cancer that is: Large. Has aggressive pathology (i.e., the cells show an infiltrative growth pattern) Located in a sensitive area where it is important to minimize the removal of normal healthy tissue, such as the head and neck, fingers, toes or genitals.

The Mohs process examines 100 percent of the tissue margins under the microscope, whereas in standard surgical excision only 1 percent of the margins are examined microscopically. Mohs surgery also conserves the greatest amount of healthy tissue, giving you the smallest scar possible.

Most skin lesions can be safely left alone. You may want the skin lesion removed for cosmetic reasons or to be reassured that it is not a cancer.

In our network of local hospitals, located conveniently for our patients, we have Consultant Dermatologists and General Surgeons who can promptly, simply and individually remove your benign skin lesion.

Insurance policies generally recognize Mohs surgery as a standard, medically necessary treatment for common skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Patients typically experience very little pain during and after Mohs surgery, apart from the initial injection of an anesthetic to numb the area beforehand.

In very early stage or lentigo maligna melanoma confined to the surface of the skin, Mohs surgery may rarely play a role. However, many dermatologists avoid Mohs even for superficial melanoma due to risks the procedure may miss portions of spreading melanoma.

Does Mohs surgery leave a hole? ›

Once the skin cancer is completely removed during the Mohs procedure, you then have a "hole" or "defect" from the excision that is then closed, usually with stitches.

If you have melanoma, basal cell, or squamous cell carcinoma, Mohs surgery may be the best choice for you.

And in some cases, Mohs surgery is overkill. Many skin cancers are small, non-aggressive, or located in areas of the body where there is a surplus of skin and removing a wider margin is inconsequential.

Your doctor may give you medicine to numb the area so you will not feel pain. The doctor may use stitches to close your wound. You will have a scar that fades with time. Most of these procedures take about 5 to 20 minutes.

Driving – If you have had a local anaesthetic, there are no restrictions on driving. However, if the lesion is close to either eye, the local anaesthetic injection may cause your vision to be impaired slightly for a while after your procedure.

Excision biopsy refers to the removal of a skin lesion by completely cutting it out.

The simplest procedures include cutting skin tags with surgical scissors and shaving noncancerous lesions down to the skin level. More serious surgeries include removing the lesion and surrounding skin through surgical excision, laser therapy or photoactivated chemicals.

If you notice your skin lesion is increasing in size or shape, is causing you severe pain, is bleeding or leaking pus or won't heal as you expected — or if you have other associated symptoms like fever, joint pain, swelling or anything concerning to you — visit your healthcare provider immediately.

If needed, benign skin lesions can get local treatment with topical medications, such as retinoids, corticosteroids, or antimicrobial agents, as well as laser therapy, cryotherapy, phototherapy, or surgical removal. If the skin lesion is caused by a systemic disease, treatment may also address the underlying cause.

Treatment to remove skin lesions should only be carried out in certain circ*mstances and if certain criteria are met. If your GP is has concerns or if the lesion persistently catches on your clothing or bleeds recurrently then you can be treated by the GP or referred to an appropriate specialist for an opinion.