Skin cancer is commonly discovered on areas of sun-exposed skin such as your cheeks, nose, scalp, arms and hands. Skin cancer can also develop in areas that are usually well protected from the sun such as your toenails, palms and under your fingernails. Skin cancer affects every ethnicity and skin tone.

It is best to see a plastic surgeon for surgical excisions of skin cancer.  Plastic surgeons have specialty training in suturing techniques that result in the best-looking incision lines and minimal scarring.

Dr. Brooks will educate you on prevention methods such as sun avoidance, proper sunscreen use, clothing with ultra violet protection factor and making these methods part of your daily routine.

At the time of your initial consultation you will meet with Dr. Brooks to discuss your skin cancer removal in detail. The surgical steps of your procedure will be explained and all of your questions will be answered.

Unusual markings, lumps, blemishes or change in the way an area of skin looks or feels may be a sign of melanoma. The most obvious sign of melanoma is a new spot on the skin, or a spot that is changing in size or looks different from all the other spots on your skin.

If you have a small cancerous lesion, Dr. Brooks with remove it with a scalpel blade. Plastic surgery suturing techniques will be performed to carefully close the opening. Everyone heals differently. Genetics, scar location and individual characteristics will influence how well your scar is going to heal.

Basal cell carcinoma may appear like a pearly or waxy bump or a raised rough spot that tends to bleed. It is a very common cancer that rarely spreads or causes death, however, it can cause significant disfigurement and destruction of surrounding tissues.

Squamous cell carcinoma is very similar to basal cell skin cancer in appearance with the exception that they have hard rough spots that tend to bleed very easily. They have a slightly higher risk of spreading than basal cell skin cancers, however, they are not as dangerous as melanoma.

The longer you wait to have your skin cancer removed, the larger the cancerous cells get and surgical removal becomes complex. If your skin cancer lesion is large, reconstructive surgery will be performed and skin grafts or flaps may be used.

You can see our standard post-operative care instructions for excisional/incisional biopsy surgery here: View Post-Op Care Instructions

Dr. Brooks will give you specific post-operative care instructions and return to work information at the time of your initial consultation.