| Our goal at DermSurgery is to ensure your total comfort and understanding of any surgery, so following is a detailed outline of this procedure:
YOUR PREOPERATIVE VISIT
Prior to scheduling the surgery, you may visit with the doctor, who will answer any questions you have and will discuss the procedure in greater detail. He will examine your skin cancer, obtain your medical history and make an assessment to determine the most beneficial and effective treatment of your skin cancer.
SURGERY PREPARATION
Our goal at DermSurgery Associates is for you to be as comfortable, relaxed and informed as possible. So we recommend that you read all information we provide to you regarding the procedure, ask questions and follow the pre-op guidelines given to you during your first visit. Prior to surgery, it is important to be well rested, to eat a good breakfast and to plan to spend a few hours at our facility. We also suggest that someone accompany you to drive you home.
SURGERY
Your doctor will be assisted by a team of nurses, medical assistants, and technicians who will be directly involved in your care. The procedure begins with the cleansing of your skin. We then numb the area with local anesthetic and remove the tissue. After the tissue is removed, we process it in our laboratory, which usually takes about 45 minutes. If the microscopic examination reveals signs of any additional tumor, we will continue the process, removing only residual tumor and sparing the healthy skin. Most skin cancers are completely removed in two or three surgical stages.
RECONSTRUCTION
You and your physician will discuss reconstruction in the preoperative visit. However, the actual method is determined only after the skin cancer is completely removed and the doctor can make a final assessment. Depending on the size and location of the defect, the doctor will decide on the most aesthetically pleasing type of repair.
POSTSURGICAL CARE
In order to facilitate the healing process, it's very important to take good care of yourself following your procedure. DermSurgery Associates will provide you with detailed information on how to care for your wound in the weeks following surgery. However, you should plan on wearing a dressing for approximately one to two weeks, while avoiding any strenuous activities.
HEALING
Your surgical scar will heal in one to two weeks. Immediately following surgery, you may experience minimal pain, which can be relieved with Tylenol™. Significant blood loss following this type of surgery is rare, but if you experience bleeding, please contact our office. The area may feel swollen or even lumpy, especially during the first few months.
FOLLOW-UP VISITS
We will make periodic follow-up appointments for you until your wound has healed. It's important to know that once you have developed a skin cancer, you are more susceptible to developing additional skin cancers in the future. If you notice any suspicious areas, contact your doctor for an evaluation.
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