WHY CHOOSE US?
At Taylor Skin Center, we strive to see patients with lesions and similar types of skin conditions as soon as possible. If you have an area of concern, our primary focus is to remove suspicious and benign lesions. We do not do skin checks, but we give our patients the option for a clean excision with minimal scarring. At your appointment, we will take a small piece (biopsy) of your lesion and send it to the dermatopathologist, who will provide a definitive diagnosis. Once a diagnosis has been received, we will create a plan for the treatment and removal of your lesion. Â
To be sure, our services should not be viewed as a replacement for a professional dermatologist. However, with the process we have in place, we can get quick answers from a pathologist as to the nature of the skin lesion and then provide treatment when necessary. One of the major benefits of coming to Taylor Skin Center for removal of lesions is that the process can often be much quicker than trying to get an appointment with a dermatologist. In our area, dermatologists are frequently “booked out,” making it very challenging to set up an appointment in the near-future. Â
Biopsy scar
Most dermatologists perform what is called a “shave biopsy” where they shave off top layers of the lesion and surrounding skin. This destroys the architecture of the lesion, making future incisions more difficult with larger-than-necessary scars. In some cases, this can even destroy the ability to accurately stage the lesion. While this can be a faster way of doing the biopsy, we feel it is not the best option for the patient.
Biopsy options at Taylor Skin Center:
- Punch Biopsy: A procedure in which a small, round piece of tissue is removed using a sharp, hollow circular instrument. The tissue is then examined under the microscope for definitive diagnosis.
- Local Excision: Complete removal of the lesion using a scalpel. Edges of the biopsy site are then sutured together with a plastic surgery closure for minimal scarring.
- Excision With Frozen Sections: The lesion will be removed and provided to a dermatopathologist for evaluation. The dermatopathologist will freeze, cut, and dye the specimen before evaluating it under a microscope to confirm all the cancer cells have been removed. If cancer is present after the initial surgical removal and evaluation, additional sections of skin will be removed for evaluation. Once the patient is confirmed cancer-free, the surgeon will then close the wound in a precise manner, minimizing the scar.
Do You Need Help With Skin Lesion Removal?
If you have an area or spot that you are concerned about or simply want removed, please call our Skin Center at 479-521-1500.
