Skin cancer, cyst, and lipoma removal in Sugar Land, TX
In addition to treating a wide variety of skin conditions medically, dermatologists are skilled skin surgeons and are trained to remove both skin cancers and noncancerous growths, like cysts and lipomas. The benefit of having a dermatologist perform your skin surgery is that these procedures are done in the office, under local anesthesia (lidocaine injections), thereby eliminating the risk and downtime of having a procedure in an operating room under general anesthesia. Experience and skill are key considerations when choosing a surgeon and Dr. Likhari has both. She has performed more than 2,500 surgical procedures to date, and her patients appreciate her gentle approach, attention to detail, and compassionate bedside manner.
Skin Cancers
While there are several types of skin cancer, the three most common include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in the world. In the US alone, 2 million cases are diagnosed each year. BCC occurs on chronically sun-damaged skin, most commonly in fair-skinned individuals. It is very slow-growing and rarely life-threatening, but it can cause destruction of the surrounding tissues and invasion into the bone if left untreated. BCC’s can be removed surgically in the office by a board-certified dermatologist.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer, also caused by chronic sun exposure, although it can also occur in patients who are immunocompromised or have chronic inflammation in their skin from other diseases. Caught early, these are easily treatable with outpatient skin cancer surgery. They are generally not life-threatening, but they can be more aggressive than BCCs, with the ability to spread internally. Thus, treatment of SCCs is time-sensitive, and prevention is key. The precursor lesion to an SCC is called an actinic keratosis (AK). These are persistently red, scaly spots on sun-damaged skin. If left untreated, AKs can turn into SCCs. AKs can be treated with liquid nitrogen, prescription medications, chemical peels, or other in-office procedures. Dr. Likhari can guide you through your options and develop a personalized plan for treatment.
Melanoma
Melanoma is cancer of the pigment cells that give us our skin tone. It is one of the more dangerous types of skin cancer because it can spread to other parts of the body and be deadly. The incidence of melanoma rises yearly, and it is the fifth most common type of cancer in men and women. Patients who are at high risk for melanoma are those with fair skin, older age, intermittent and intense UV exposure, a strong family history of melanoma, and a history of multiple atypical moles. Melanoma can look like an abnormal mole; a dark, irregular streak on the nail; a firm, raised growth; or a bleeding, non-healing sore. We use the ABCDE criteria to describe the common characteristics of melanoma - Asymmetry, Borders, Color, Diameter, and Evolving. If you have a growth that is new, rapidly growing, itching, bleeding, dark/multi-colored, or irregular, please call and schedule an appointment today.
Read more about the ABCDE criteria on the American Academy of Dermatology website.
Benign Growths
Some of the most common complaints in a dermatologist’s office are about “lumps and bumps” under the skin. Many times, these lumps and bumps turn out to be either cysts or lipomas.
Cysts
Cysts are essentially large whiteheads or blackheads that grow under the skin. Epidermal inclusion cysts (EICs) are the most common type found on the body, while pilar cysts are found on the scalp. They are not dangerous but can be large, itchy, and tender. Sometimes they become red, painful, and filled with pus, like a boil. Dermatologists can surgically remove them if they are symptomatic or cosmetically bothersome. Dr. Likhari has years of experience removing cysts on the trunk, scalp, face.
Lipomas
Lipomas are benign, noncancerous growths made up of fat cells. They vary in size and typically have no symptoms. People usually want them removed for cosmetic reasons. Dr. Likhari is experienced in the excision of lipomas.
Please note that some cysts and lipomas are too large to be removed in the outpatient setting due to size or location near vital structures. Prior to scheduling the procedure, Dr. Likhari requires an in-person consultation so that she can assess the lesion and determine whether it can be removed in the clinic. Surgical removal of benign growths is covered differently by different insurance plans. At the consultation visit, Sweetwater Dermatology will provide patients with the billing codes that will be sent to their insurance company, and requests that patients call their insurance company with those codes before scheduling their procedure so that they are fully aware of any out-of-pocket charges. All copays and deductibles are due at the time of service.