CONDITION

BENIGN LESION ON SKINI

WHAT IS A BENIGN LESION?

A benign skin lesion is an area of skin that is different than the surrounding tissue. This can be a lump, sore, or any type of abnormality – it can also refer to skin cancer.

However, several skin lesions are very common and are almost always benign or non-cancerous. These include moles, freckles, skin tags, benign lentigines, and seborrheic keratoses.

The type of removal procedure required depends on the location, size, and type of lesion in question.

Once removed, the lesion will be sent for examination to understand the skin condition and any risks associated.

SHAVE EXCISION:

The shave excision technique is used for skin lesions that rise above the skin or are on the upper layer of skin.

During removal, the doctor will use a small blade to remove the outermost layers of the skin that include all or part of the lesion.

While stitches are not usually required, post-procedure medicine may be applied to the treated area to stop any bleeding.

The treated area may also be cauterized to seal the blood vessels shut. Both treatments are harmless as the treated area will be frozen and completely numb.

SIMPLE SCISSOR EXCISION:

This technique is used for a benign lesion on the skin that is risen or is in the upper layer of skin.

The doctor will use a pair of forceps to gently lift the lesion while using small curved scissors to carefully remove the lesion.

A curette (a tool to scrape or clean skin) may be used to cut any remaining parts of the lesion.

Post-procedure medicine may be applied to the treated area to stop any bleeding. The treated area may also be cauterized to seal the blood vessels shut.

FULL THICKNESS – SKIN EXCISION

The Full-Thickness – Skin Excision removes skin lesions that are at deeper levels of the skin, all the way down to the fatty layer under the skin.

This technique is more likely used when there is concern about skin cancer. A small amount of regular tissue may be removed to ensure it is clear of cancerous cells.

The treated area is shaped like an ellipse (football shape) in order to make stitches easier to use. If a larger area is used, a skin graft is used to replace the removed skin.

CURETTAGE AND ELECTRODESICCATION

The Curettage and Electrodesiccation procedure uses a technique of scraping or scooping out superficial lesions. This is often for lesions that do not need a full-thickness excision.