If you have an unsightly skin lesion, Dr. Ledding can remove it using one or more of a variety of advanced surgical techniques. These lesions include moles, liver spots, actinic keratosis, cysts, seborrheic keratosis, sebaceous hyperplasia, and skin cancers. Before they can be removed cosmetically, however, they must be properly diagnosed to ensure there is no malignancy present. Luckily, the majority of skin lesions are benign.
Please see the following links regarding warning signs of suspicious skin lesions:
Melanoma Research Foundation
The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons
If a malignancy is found, Dr. Ledding must remove it through a technique that preserves as much of the healthy skin as possible. Following this, skin grafts or transplantation of tissue from elsewhere may be necessary for reconstruction.
Dr. Ledding has performed numerous skin lesion removal procedures for his patients. No two patients are the same, however, so he will spend time with you during your initial consultation and examination to discuss your options and his recommended surgical plan for you.
Is Skin Lesion Removal an Outpatient Procedure?
This procedure is almost always performed as an outpatient procedure using a local anesthetic. Most patients can go home the same day, provided someone is available to drive them. Only in extreme cases is a hospital stay required.
What Incisions Are Used For Skin Lesion Removal?
Incisions are highly variable depending on the type and size of the skin lesion. Dr. Ledding will review the techniques with you that apply to your case and will make sure you are aware of what to expect.
What Happens During Skin Lesion Removal?
When surgery is required, excision is a common technique, and it is sometimes used with cauterization. The growth is cut and removed, and the incisions are sutured with regular or absorbable stitches.
If the lesion is large, or the removal of skin cancer has resulted in a large loss of skin, skin grafts may be necessary. In this case, Dr. Ledding will remove the skin from a donor site (for example, on the lower body where the area is usually hidden under clothing) and graft it where it is needed. Local tissue transfer of skin flaps from nearly donor sites is often also used. Read more about reconstructive surgery.
What Happens Immediately After Skin Lesion Removal?
After your procedure, any incisions will be dressed with bandages. You can usually go home right away. We will provide you with instructions for after-care and follow-up appointments. Minor procedures, such as age spot or mole removal, may not even require follow-up other than a phone call with the office to check your biopsy results and verify that you are having no post-operative issues.
When Can I Return to Work After Skin Lesion Removal?
If the surgical excision of your lesions was minor, you will likely be able to return to work right away.
In the case of skin grafts, you will have two or more sites that must recover from the procedure – the donor site and the site that has received the graft. You might need some time off from work afterward, but the number of days will vary depending on the extent of your surgery. Dr. Ledding will discuss this with you prior to your surgery so that you can make plans.
What Post-Operative Symptoms Can I Expect After Skin Lesion Removal?
Minor surgical procedures usually result in minor post-procedure symptoms, such as a small amount of bruising, swelling, and discomfort for a few days to a couple of weeks maximum. This will vary by area of surgery and other patient characteristics.
Skin grafting or flaps will result in more significant bruising, numbness, and pain for a period of weeks. You can take prescription or non-prescription medications to ease you through this period.
Swelling after skin grafts or flaps takes a bit longer to resolve, gradually improving over a period of months.
Are There Scars After Skin Lesion Removal?
There are scars after surgical skin lesion removal, but Dr. Ledding uses state-of-the-art plastic surgery techniques to keep scarring to a minimum. The scars will fade and become less prominent in the months following your surgery. We will also provide strategies for healing the scars as quickly as possible. Keep in mind, however, that each person has their own individual propensity toward good or bad scarring.
Contact our office for a consultation to discuss skin lesion removal with Dr. Ledding.