Surgical Dermatology

Surgical dermatology in Hammond Louisiana, surgical dermatology in Madisonville Louisiana is considered a crucial component to enhancing skin health and appearance. It includes procedures to diagnose and treat skin issues such as skin cancer, moles, cysts and other growths that you may be experiencing.

To start, at Northshore Dermatology, we perform different types of surgical dermatology in Hammond Louisiana, surgical dermatology in Madisonville Louisiana biopsies for diagnostic purposes, such as shave biopsies, punch biopsies, even excisional and incisional ones. This can all start by receiving a yearly full body exam. Yearly full-body exams are crucial for a multitude of reasons: early detection of skin cancer, which is highly treatable; base line monitoring for future skin conditions; allows for a personalized skin care routine; and it allows for screenings for other potential conditions. 

A shave biopsy is when the provider removes the top layers of skin with a small blade held parallel to the skin. This allows for the smooth removal of the lesion in question, usually superficial or raised sites. Once this is done, the post procedural care can include an ointment being applied as well as a bandage.

After, the tissue is sent off to a laboratory to determine what the lesion is. This surgical dermatology in Hammond Louisiana, surgical dermatology in Madisonville Louisiana procedure is considered non-invasive with minimal scarring and no stitches are required. 

When the provider deems a punch biopsy is needed, they will use a specialized tool that looks like a small cookie cutter. This is used to remove a core sample of the site in question. Your surgical dermatology in Hammond Louisiana, surgical dermatology in Madisonville Louisiana provider will also utilize a local anesthetic to numb the area. When you have a punch biopsy, keep in mind, you may need to have a few stitches and an antibiotic ointment applied. Healing itself is typically quick with the stitches being removed after 10 to 14 days. 

A punch biopsy can be used to diagnose skin cancer, inflammatory skin disorders like eczema or psoriasis, autoimmune disease that manifest on the skin such as lupus, or infectious disease like bacteria or fungi. 

A surgical dermatology in Hammond Louisiana, surgical dermatology in Madisonville Louisiana procedure that is similar to a punch biopsy is an incisional biopsy. One of the differences is that an incisional biopsy is used when a larger, deeper specimen is needed. This also uses a local anesthetic to numb the site. Typically, this is done with a scalpel and removes a small portion of the larger lesion to access deeper tissue layers. 

Incisions are used to remove and test part of a lesion while excisions are used to remove the entire lesion including a small margin of healthy tissue to ensure complete removal and lower chance of recurrence. 

Excision of a lesion is considered a minor surgical procedure that removes skin abnormalities. The goal of this procedure is to diagnose abnormalities and treat them by removing them entirely and minimizing the risk of recurrence. This is generally a safe procedure with a potential risk of minor bleeding, infection, and scarring. 

At Northshore Dermatology to treat skin cancer, we offer MOHS surgery, a type of surgical dermatology in Hammond Louisiana, surgical dermatology in Madisonville Louisiana . Mohs surgery is used for the treatment of aggressive skin cancers and for those cancers in high risk or sensitive locations. This technique allows for the precise identification and removal of the entire tumor while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact, thus preserving as much of the cosmetic appearance and functionality of the skin as possible.  MOHS surgery also offers the highest potential cure rate and can even be used if skin cancer has previously failed treatment by other methods. If you have any questions about your options for skin cancer treatment, please contact us to schedule an appointment with our MOHS specialist Dr. David Pate. 

MOHS surgery is considered a minimally invasive procedure since the tissue is removed layer by layer and the operation site is numbed with local anesthesia. It is then examined between each removal until cancerous cells are no longer detected. The site is then closed with complex repairs that can involve deeper sutures; involving critical anatomical areas such as: the helical rim (outer ear), nostril rim, or vermilion border (lip line); a process that creates a flap of skin that can be pulled over the wound called extensive undermining; and/or the placement of retention sutures.

Another surgical service provided at Northshore Dermatology is cryosurgery, also known as cryotherapy. It is a procedure where extreme cold produced by liquid nitrogen or argon gas is used to destroy abnormal tissue. This can range from warts, early-stage cancers and precancerous lesions. Cryosurgery is considered a less invasive procedure compared to alternatives because when performed the provider uses a spray, probe or cotton-tipped applicator to target the tissue. Freezing the site directly causes necrosis and initiates an immune response that assists in the healing process. 

When healing from cryosurgery, the area can become swollen, red, or blister and the patients are advised to keep site clean and possibly apply a protective ointment to promote healing. While there are other surgeries performed in dermatologist offices, there is also curettage and electrosurgery. This procedure removes the abnormal growth by scraping the tissue and then using electricity to cauterize the wound. This process helps destroy any remaining abnormal cells and prevents further bleeding. It is an effective procedure when addressing precancerous lesions, superficial basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. The wound that results from this procedure usually takes 2 to 3 weeks to heal and may result in some skin changes. These changes can range from changes in skin color, scarring or tight skin, or there is even a chance skin cancer will recur.

On the cosmetic side, at Northshore Dermatology, we perform ear lobe repairs. An ear lobe repair is a procedure used to correct the shape and size of an earlobe that is either stretched or torn. This can happen from various things like age, injury, or even wearing heavy jewelry. The procedure is a relatively quick and easy process that allows patients to return home the same day. The healing process is crucial too! If you wish to achieve the best cosmetic results, it will take 8 to 12 weeks and if you wish to re-pierce your ears, it’s recommended to wait three to six months after the repair is healed.