All our medical providers are experienced dermatologic surgeons. All skin surgeries are performed on site at our practice, under local anesthesia. Typically, the closure will require sutures/stiches that need to be removed 7-14 days later.
Prior to your surgery, we will perform a surgical consultation; most surgeries will be scheduled as separate appointment to allow necessary time and preparation.
The following are common types of skin surgery we perform:
- Incision and drainage of inflamed abscesses or cysts
- Cyst excision (removal of the entire sac)
- Lipoma excision (very large lipomas may need referral to a general surgeon)
- Mole removal – shave removal or excision
- Pilar cysts (cysts on the scalp)
- Skin cancer surgery – basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma
- Keloid excision Earlobe repair (for torn earlobes, usually not covered by insurance)
- Hidradenitis suppurativa deroofing
What can I expect for my skin surgery?
- The medical assistant will prepare you by taking history, getting signed consent, and photographing the lesion.
- We will numb the area with lidocaine with epinephrine using a very small needle. If you would like topical numbing cream beforehand, please let us know in advance. Children will all be offered topical numbing prior to injections. Alternative agents will be used for pregnant patients or those with allergies to lidocaine or epinephrine.
- The skin will be sterilized with alcohol, betadine, or chlorhexidine.
- The lesion will be excised, and we will close the wound with sutures. The internal layer of sutures will dissolve, but often external sutures placed. These will require removal 7-14 days later.
- A pressure bandage will be placed, and wound care instructions will be given.
- A follow up appointment for suture removal will be made.
Will my surgery be covered by insurance?
If we are removing a benign lesion for a medical reason, it is often covered. If it removed for cosmetic reasons, it may not be covered by insurance. Skin cancer surgeries are covered if they are performed according to national guidelines.
How should I prepare for my surgery?
- Schedule the surgery on a week where you don’t plan to travel or have an important event. You may be restricted from swimming, strenuous exercising, or heavy lifting.
- Eat and drink normally beforehand, take all your routine medications as prescribed. If you take blood thinners, you do not need to discontinue them but notify us that you are taking them.
- Avoid drinking alcohol 24-48 hours prior to and following surgery, it can increase risk of bleeding.
- For scalp surgeries, wash your hair prior to the surgery since you may not be able to wash it for 24-48 hours afterward.
- If your surgery is on a hairy area of skin, consider trimming the hair around it beforehand at home to minimize discomfort from the adhesive bandage.
How should I take care of my wound?
Wound care will be reviewed in person after your surgery, and care instructions are also here.
Will I have a scar?
- Any surgery of the skin will result in a scar. Expectations for size/length of the scar will be discussed at your consultation. Skin cancers may require removal of a larger area beyond the original lesion (based on national guidelines) to ensure that the entirety is removed.
- After sutures are removed, you may use silicone scar gel or silicone scar sheets to help improve the appearance of the scar.
- If a scar becomes raised or itchy, we can perform injections to improve the discomfort and appearance.