Skin Cancer Surgery Ocean County NJ
There are more cases of skin cancer in the United States every year than any other type of cancer. While a dermatologist may diagnose skin cancer, and an oncologist may treat the more serious forms, a plastic surgeon is often needed to reconstruct the area so that there is as little disfigurement as possible.
Dr. Small has extensive experience performing reconstructive surgery, whether for basal cell, squamous cell, melanoma skin cancers, or sarcomas.
The Skin Cancer Reconstruction Procedure
No two patients are the same when it comes to skin cancer reconstruction. Dr. Small’s goal is to use his expertise and advanced techniques to restore the skin to a normal appearance with as little scarring as possible.
Skin grafts or flaps and/or tissue grafts may be necessary if a great deal of tissue had to be excised in order to remove all of the cancer cells. In that case, the skin or tissue is taken from another part of the body and transferred to the area where the skin cancer lesion appeared.
Dr. Small will examine you and advise what can be done to reconstruct the affected area. If necessary, he will consult with your dermatologist and/or oncologist to make sure you have an optimal result.
Often, the procedure can be done using a local anesthetic alone or with sedation. In more extensive cases, a general anesthetic may be necessary, but only in extreme cases does the patient need to spend a night or two in the hospital.
Recovering from Skin Cancer Reconstruction
Many cases of skin cancer reconstruction do not require downtime, but if the wound is on your face, you might wish to take some time off from work for healing. There will be some soreness, bruising, and swelling that will vary based on the severity of your case. You can take pain medications to ease discomfort, and if you can keep the area elevated, that will reduce swelling.
Sutures will be removed in a subsequent visit with Dr. Small, and he will give you full post-operative instructions, including how to care for the wounds and stitches. He will monitor your progress until you have completely healed.
Contact Ocean Plastic Surgery P.A. and Laser Center today to find out more about skin cancer reconstruction. At our Toms River and Manahawkin locations, we serve patients from all over the New Jersey Shore and beyond, including Stafford Township, Barnegat, Lacey, Berkeley, Dover Township, Brick, Little Egg Harbor, Manchester, Jackson, Howell, Wall, Freehold, Manalapan, and Point Pleasant.