Skin Lesions And Skin Cancer Surgery

The most common benign skin lesions are nevi (moles), angiomas, warts, epidermal cysts and lipomas.

The most common skin tumors are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Excessive sun exposure influences the etiology of these cancers. Age and sunburns occurred before the age of 15 increase the risk of melanoma.

Surgery on skin lesions performed by a plastic surgeon, in addition to the complete excision of the lesion, provides excellent aesthetic result with scaring.

• In most cases an excision of the lesion will be carried out, leaving an inconspicuous scar.

This operation is usually performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient clinic bases (in other words, hospitalization is usually not necessary).

The operation usually lasts between 15 to 20 minutes.

You can return to work and normal activity immediately.

• In malignant lesions it is compulsory to obtaining free margins of neoplasic cells, which can leave an important skin defect, which requires plastic surgery reconstructive techniques (local flaps or skin grafts) for proper coverage.

This operation is usually performed under local anesthesia and sedation on an outpatient clinic bases (in other words, hospitalization is usually not necessary).

The operation usually lasts between 30 and 40 minutes.

All surgical skin lesions are sent to a pathology laboratory for their analysis.

You should not manipulate the sticking plasters. The stitches will be removed in 7 to 15 days depending on the location. During the first year you must use a high protection suncream to prevent scars hyperpigmentation.

An ulcer is an injury of the soft tissues due to compression between two hard structures (bone and support area). Pressure ulcers appear in patients with different underlying pathologies and their cures and surgery has to be managed in a context of multidisciplinary treatment.

Damaged tissue should be frequently cleaned, using dilute solutions of povidone-iodine with saline serum and subsequent care with the latest designed dressings.

Preventative measures are the basis of ulcer treatment, the patients’ family should be taught all the preventative care procedures. The treatment needs to be performed and supervised by a plastic surgeon specialized in this type of pathology.

Burns are injuries caused by chemical, physical or biological agents that damage a range soft tissues from the erythema to the total destruction of the structures affected.

Apart from the acute injury, burns can also cause major deformities in the long term. The goals of burn’s treatment are to achieve aesthetic/functional recovery and social integration through treatment performed. This type of treatment must be supervised by a specialist plastic surgeon.