Services/ Treatments

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers and its incidence continues to increase. Sun exposure, fair skin pigmentation, and genetics all play a role in the development of skin cancer. Although skin cancer is easily curable in most cases, early treatment gives the best cosmetic results and decreases the risk of needing more extensive treatment. This is because it is treated while it is smaller rather than trying to excise and treat it later after it has grown larger. Many of our patients are relieved that they had their skin cancers treated early.

 

All patients should have routine skin examinations with their dermatologists for the detection and early treatment of skin cancer. Should Dr. Oriba happen to find a suspicious lesion, he may perform a biopsy that same day, to determine if it is skin cancer.

Dr. Oriba performs Mohs micrographic surgery for the removal of skin cancers. This special technique is very precise and is designed for complete removal of skin cancers without having to remove unnecessary amounts of normal skin around it. As a result, your resulting wound (or defect) will be smaller while still getting out all of cancer, the best of both worlds! After the procedure, you will have a defect that will need to be reconstructed. Dr. Oriba has extensive experience in reconstructing Mohs excision defects.

 

 

 

 

Your Consultation with Dr. Oriba

Dr. Oriba will first determine if you have skin cancer and what type. Then he will determine if Mohs surgery is right for you. It is never certain exactly how large your anticipated defect will be, but knowing the location of the skin cancer and discussing your options before your Mohs procedure is always ideal. Dr. Oriba will discuss the possible options for closing the wound with you. Options to close the wound may include: 1) direct repair, 2) making incisions nearby to move skin and tissue into the wound, or 3) reconstructing it with a skin graft from another part of your body. 

 

What the Surgery Will Be Like

Mohs surgery, to remove the skin cancer, is done in the office procedure room and tested to make sure the skin cancer is completely removed without having to remove unnecessary amounts of normal skin around it. This gives you the smallest wound possible.

 

Most skin cancer reconstruction can be performed in an office procedure room under sterile conditions. If the wound is relatively small, the procedure is usually less than an hour long. Dr. Oriba will give you soft bandages to protect your incisions and keep them clean. ​

 

Recovery

Typically, the recovery for each of these procedures is anywhere from 1 week to 4 weeks, depending on how large the wound is and where it is located. 

 

Call and schedule an appointment today! Dr. Oriba will first determine if you have skin cancer, determine if Mohs surgery is the right option for you, discuss the details and risks of skin cancer reconstruction, and provide you with a highly individualized treatment plan. We look forward to meeting you!