Skin cancer reconstructive surgery can be an integral component of skin cancer treatment. Over one million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year and one in five adults will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. One third to one half of all new cancer diagnoses are skin cancer. Ninety percent of all skin cancer is caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. People with fair skin, hair, and eyes, those with a genetic predisposition, people who spend large amounts of time outdoors and people who live close to the equator or in high altitude regions are often at a greater risk for developing skin cancer.

Skin cancer reconstructive surgery can help to restore the form and function to the affected area once the cancerous cells have been removed. There are a variety of types of skin cancer that a patient can develop that may later require skin cancer reconstructive surgery. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer can cause extensive damage if left untreated. Squamous cell carcinoma most often affects the skin of the lips, face, and ears~ locations where skin cancer reconstructive surgery can be most advantageous. Malignant melanoma is less common but is the most dangerous type of skin cancer which, if left untreated, can prove fatal.

Skin cancer is often treated by removing the cancerous cells from the body. When the cancerous area is small, a doctor can typically remove the tissues under a local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Curettage and desiccation is a skin cancer removal technique that uses electrical current to scrape away cancerous tissues. The scars from these procedures are typically minor, though skin cancer reconstructive surgery procedures may be beneficial. Larger and more extensive areas of skin cancer require more involved procedures and may require skin cancer reconstructive surgery as part of the overall treatment. These procedures may also precede treatments like radiation, chemotherapy, and cryosurgery. Mohs surgery is a special technique used to remove skin cancer by shaving off the layers of cancerous skin cells one layer at a time.

The purpose of skin cancer reconstructive surgery is to repair damaged tissues, rebuild body parts, and restore form and function to the areas affected by skin cancer. Skin cancer reconstructive surgery can range from scar revision, micodermabrasion, and laser resurfacing all the way to rebuilding compromised body structures such as the ears, nose, eyelids, or lips. Skin cancer reconstructive surgery is the number one reconstructive procedure performed on men and the sixth most popular for women. The goal of skin cancer reconstructive surgery is to restore appearance and utility to the parts of the body that are affected by skin cancer growths.

There are many ways to prevent skin cancer and many treatment options to manage or obliterate the development of this pervasive cancer. Skin cancer reconstructive surgery can be an integral part of the treatment plan to restore health to the victims of skin cancer. If you are interested in getting more information about skin cancer and skin cancer reconstructive surgery, please contact us to consult with a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon in your area.