Dermatologic surgery is the treatment of medically necessary and cosmetic skin, nail, and hair conditions by various surgical methods. It is also called dermatological surgery.
Dermatologists are all trained in basic dermatologic surgery. Some dermatologists undergo additional training in advanced dermatologic surgery procedures. Non-dermatologists that may also perform skin surgery include plastic and reconstructive surgeons, otolaryngologists, ophthalmic surgeons, general surgeons and general practitioners.
Surgery is essential for the removal of skin cancers and suspected skin cancers, including:
Mohs micrographic surgery is used to remove mid-facial skin cancers, especially if their margins are unclear or they are recurrent lesions.
Surgery is also used to remove benign growths that are causing a nuisance or are unsightly, such as large moles and seborrhoeic keratoses.
Cosmetic surgical procedures include:
Dermatologic surgeons also employ non-surgical cosmetic techniques, such as:
In most cases, dermatologic surgery can be undertaken using a local anaesthetic in a side room at the doctor’s office.
The most common procedure is a simple ellipse excision of a skin tumour, described here.
Sometimes an additional procedure is necessary to close the wound, such as a skin flap (skin taken from an adjacent area and moved to fill the surgical defect) or skin graft (skin taken from a distant area and placed on the surgical defect).
Immediate complications include:
Delayed complications may include:
