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Skin Cancer Reconstruction
Mr Athanassopoulos is an expert in the area of skin cancer reconstruction of the face having performed over 2000 skin lesion excisions.
The
problem
There are 2 main types of skin cancer. Non melanoma skin cancers includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The other main type is melanoma.
The
procedure
Non melanoma skin cancers is typically removed by excision with a 4 mm margin or by using Moh’s technique. Moh’s is a specialised form of surgery typically performed by a Moh’s surgeon. After the Moh’s surgeon has removed the skin cancer the patients are then reconstructed by Mr Athanassopoulos.
Mr Athanassopoulos uses a variety of techniques to reconstruct the defect depending on the size shape and location. These include skin grafts and local skin flaps
Melanoma skin cancer is slightly different. The treatment is dependent on the thickness of the tumour. Mr Athanassopoulos is a specialist in melanoma skin cancer of the head and neck and the use of local node mapping or sentinel node biopsy. Once the excision has taken place the reconstruction of the defect may then take place.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
There are a variety of different skin cancer signs. These include changes in the skin that do not heal, ulcerating in the skin, thickening of the skin, bleeding, discoloured skin, and changes in existing moles, such as development of irregular or jagged edges, changes in shape or enlargement in size.
Warning signs of malignant melanoma include change in the size, shape, colour or elevation of a mole. Other signs are the appearance of a new mole during adulthood or new pain, itching, ulceration or bleeding. Unfortunately, a few melanomas are pink, red or fleshy in colour; these are called amelanotic melanomas and tend to be more aggressive.
These include changes in the skin that do not heal, ulcerating in the skin, discoloured skin, and changes in existing moles such as jagged edges to the mole and enlargement of the mole. Symptoms such as pain and bleeding are late features and therefore it is a mistake to think that if it is not hurting or bleeding it must be alright.
Recent evidence suggests that sun beds are very harmful and are a significant skin cancer risk factor.