Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than 5.4 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer were treated in the U.S. in a recent year. One in every five people in America will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.

Like all forms of cancer, skin cancer may require surgery to remove malignant cells. Our skilled reconstructive and plastic surgeons at University Plastic Surgeons in Memphis use specialized techniques to remove cancerous lesions, preserving your appearance as well as your health.

Surgery to Treat Skin Cancer

Most skin cancers require surgery for treatment. Skin cancer surgery is often performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. Cancer cells are removed, along with some of the surrounding healthy skin as a margin for safety.

Mohs surgery may be recommended for treatment of skin cancer in more visible areas, such as the face, neck, or hands. This technique was designed to remove skin cancers while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. The procedure involves removing cancerous cells layer by layer, until the last layers removed show no sign of cancer. Each layer removed is evaluated with a microscope before another layer is addressed so the minimal amount of tissue is removed.

Small or contained skin cancer lesions may be removed through excision, using a scalpel or razor to remove a growth from the skin. Any of several excision techniques may be used:

  • Simple excision: A scalpel is used in this technique to remove the lesion and a margin of surrounding tissue.

  • Shave excision: In this procedure, the cancerous growth is shaved off the skin with a sharp tool similar to a razor.

  • Wide excision: A wide excision removes the tumor and a wider area of healthy tissue and may extend deeper into the skin.

Advanced Skin Cancer Treatment Options

Most cases of skin cancer can be treated in the doctor’s office or with outpatient surgery. Depending on the type and extent of skin cancer, advanced treatment options may include:

  • This is the primary treatment for most skin cancers.

  • Systemic chemotherapy may be recommended for patients with advanced skin cancers.

  • This treatment uses drugs designed to attach themselves to cancer cells and to kill those cells or help other therapies work better.

  • In some cases of localized skin cancer, topical treatments can be used to destroy or remove cancerous cells.

  • Radiation may be used after skin cancer surgery in areas where lymph nodes were removed, or if cancer has returned.

  • This therapy uses drugs designed to help the immune system identify and attack cancer cells.

Reconstructive Surgery with Skin Cancer

Although necessary to preserve your health, skin cancer surgery can leave scarring and disfigurement, particularly when surgery is extensive or a wide excision technique is used. Our renowned reconstructive and plastic surgeons perform reconstructive surgery with artistry and skill to minimize the aesthetic effects of skin cancer surgery.

The surgical technique used in skin cancer reconstructive surgery will depend on the location and extent of the excision. It may involve a local flap, in which healthy, adjacent tissue is repositioned over the surgical wound. Another reconstructive option is a skin graft, in which a thin layer of tissue is removed from another area of the body and placed at the surgical wound site.