Skin Cancer

Excision can be used for most types of skin cancer. To start, Dr. Fichadia will numb the affected area of the skin. Then, the cancerous section of tissue is removed with a sharp scalpel, along with a small margin of healthy skin around it. This ensures that all cancerous cells are removed. This is the most commonly used method for removing skin cancer, as it is quick and carries a minimal risk of scarring.

Most skin cancers are removed surgically by a plastic surgeon or dermatologist. If the cancer is small, the procedure can often be performed quickly in an outpatient facility or the physician’s office using local anesthesia. A simple excision usually leaves a thin, barely visible scar.

If the cancer is large or has spread to the lymph nodes or elsewhere in the body, major surgery may be required. Other possible treatments for skin cancer include cryosurgery (freezing the cancer cells), radiation therapy, topical chemotherapy (anti-cancer drugs applied to the skin), and Mohs surgery—a procedure in which the cancer is removed layer by layer. (Mohs surgery is performed only by specially trained physicians and often requires reconstructive surgery afterward.)

We understand that a skin cancer diagnosis can provoke anxiety and strive to accommodate surgical removal in a timely manner. In cases of reconstruction after Mohs surgery, we work closely with your Mohs surgeon to ensure prompt and coordinated reconstruction.