Skin Surgery

You may need skin surgery to remove abnormal or unwanted skin growths. At North Pacific Dermatology in Arcata, Crescent City and Fortuna, California, Drs. Arnold and Kinsley, along with a highly skilled team of providers use many techniques to perform skin surgery to get the best outcomes with the least amount of scarring. The experienced Dermatologists and Physician Assistants at North Pacific Dermatology perform all skin surgeries. Call the office closest to you today to discuss your options.

What is skin surgery?

Skin surgery includes procedures dermatologists perform on the skin to treat, diagnose, or prevent skin conditions. Dermatologists also use skin surgery to improve aesthetics. 

North Pacific Dermatology is a state-of-the-art dermatology and aesthetics practice that provides comprehensive skin care.

What are the types of skin surgery?

The dermatologists at North Pacific Dermatology use many techniques when performing skin surgery. The types of surgeries include:

Biopsy

A biopsy is a diagnostic procedure where your dermatologist removes part or all of an abnormal skin growth and sends it to the pathology lab for analysis. A biopsy determines a diagnosis, helping to confirm or rule out a disease like skin cancer.

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy abnormal skin growths. The growth then scabs and falls off. North Pacific Dermatology may perform cryosurgery to remove precancerous lesions or warts.

Electrosurgery and curettage

Electrosurgery and curettage is a treatment that uses heat and a spoon-shaped scalpel to remove warts, skin cancer, or moles. During the procedure, they burn (electrosurgery) the growth and then scrape (curettage) it off your skin. 

Shave excision

For unwanted moles, the dermatologist may perform a shave excision to shave the growth off at skin level.

Surgical excision

During surgical excision, the dermatologist uses a scalpel to remove the growth and some of the surrounding healthy skin. The team may perform this skin surgery to treat skin cancer or suspicious moles. 

What type of skin surgery do I need?

The team at North Pacific Dermatology takes an individualized approach to care. Before making recommendations, they conduct a thorough evaluation. They discuss your concerns and symptoms, review your medical history, and examine your skin.

After your evaluation, they talk to you about their findings and your treatment options, including the type of skin surgery necessary to remove your skin growth. 

The dermatologist performs skin surgery at the office. They use a local anesthetic to eliminate pain during the procedure and cover the site with a bandage. The team at North Pacific Dermatology gives you at-home care instructions and schedules follow-up visits to monitor healing.

You may need skin surgery to treat an abnormal or problematic skin growth. For expert and attentive care, call North Pacific Dermatology to schedule your skin surgery today.