While benign lesions such as moles, skin tags, cysts, and keloid scars are not dangerous, there are many reasons one may wish to seek removal for these. For example, sometimes these lesions can become irritated, itchy, or painful.

Procedural or surgical removal may also be considered if a benign lesion is growing in order to avoid needing a bigger, more complex procedure to remove it in the future.

Finally, cosmetic removal is also an option when you don’t like how a lesion looks or how it makes you feel.

Skin cancers such as basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and melanomas are often treated with local excisions in order to remove the cancer and prevent it from causing problems due to local invasion or spread to other parts of your body. These excisions are done under local anesthesia in the office, so you get to return home the same day without a need for hospital admission. The tissue Is then sent to a dermatopathologist (skin pathology expert) who examines it under the microscope to make sure the cancer was completely removed.

Sometimes, certain skin cancers with some specific characteristics can also be treated with Mohs surgery, which refers to a specific type of excision done in dermatology. We work closely with excellent fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons in order to schedule these cases.

If a cancer is diagnosed in an early stage, alternatives to surgery may also be considered, including procedures like electrodessication & curettage and topical chemotherapy treatments.