Dermatological Surgery and Other Procedures
At Maine Dermatology, our goal is to provide you with individualized treatment plans that suit your needs. Several treatment options are available depending on the type, size and location of the skin cancer.
These include in-office:
Excisional Surgery:
The dermatologist numbs the skin and then surgically removes the skin cancer and a small amount of normal skin around the cancer to ensure complete removal. The wound is closed with two layers of stitches.
Electrodessication and Curettage
This surgical procedure is an alternative approach to treating thin basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. It involves scraping the tumor with a curette, and then cauterizing the remaining cancer and some normal tissue. This method is repeated three times during the same visit. The wound is allowed to heal without stitches.
Chemotherapy applied to the skin
Certain types of skin cancers can be treated with topical chemotherapy such as 5-fluorouracil. This is applied to the skin cancer to destroy it. A reaction forms and new skin appears after the skin heals.
Cryosurgery
This procedure involves freezing the skin cancer causing the skin cancer cells to slough off.
We also offer surgical options for removal of moles, cyst or other benign growths. Ear lobe repair can also be achieved with minimal down time.
These include in-office:
Excisional Surgery:
The dermatologist numbs the skin and then surgically removes the skin cancer and a small amount of normal skin around the cancer to ensure complete removal. The wound is closed with two layers of stitches.
Electrodessication and Curettage
This surgical procedure is an alternative approach to treating thin basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. It involves scraping the tumor with a curette, and then cauterizing the remaining cancer and some normal tissue. This method is repeated three times during the same visit. The wound is allowed to heal without stitches.
Chemotherapy applied to the skin
Certain types of skin cancers can be treated with topical chemotherapy such as 5-fluorouracil. This is applied to the skin cancer to destroy it. A reaction forms and new skin appears after the skin heals.
Cryosurgery
This procedure involves freezing the skin cancer causing the skin cancer cells to slough off.
We also offer surgical options for removal of moles, cyst or other benign growths. Ear lobe repair can also be achieved with minimal down time.