Guide to Skin Lesion Excision

Skin lesion excision is a procedure in which the surgeon removes a cancerous skin lesion and an area of surrounding tissue called the margin.

There are three types of skin cancer: Basal cell cancer is the least invasive with the least amount of margin removed; squamous cell is more aggressive with a wider margin required. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, occurring in the cells that produce pigment.

Many types of benign skin growths may look like malignant tumors and are removed for a biopsy. If a lesion looks precancerous it may be removed as a precaution.

Some patients are referred by primary care physicians or are self-referred because of the concerning appearance of a lesion. Your surgeon will perform a biopsy in the office if the lesion is suspicious for cancer. If the lesion is indeed cancer, he or she will then excise the lesion with appropriate margins and then reconstruct the defect. Alternatively, you may be referred to a Moh. s dermatologist for removal of the lesion and then return to the plastic surgeon for reconstruction.

Other patients are referred from a dermatologist after excision of a skin cancer and the plastic surgeon will then reconstruct the defect.

For more information about skin cancer and Moh's procedure, click here.

Next Steps

If you are in need of a reconstructive procedure, our team is here to help. Call us at (212) 305-3103 or request an appointment online.

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