Skin Cancer Austin, TX

Skin cancer is primarily caused by ultraviolet radiation exposure from the sun. It commonly develops on the face, head, and neck. Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the U.S. The three most common types of skin cancer include melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Melanoma is the third most common type of skin cancer. It most often occurs on the face, lips, and ears, though it can spread to other sites, including the lymph nodes and internal organs. Melanoma can prove life-threatening if left untreated. Moles that change in size, color, or shape, as well as new skin growths, maybe a sign of melanoma.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It can appear in many forms and is the least dangerous type of skin cancer, as it is slow-growing and rarely spreads.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer, commonly occurring on the face, ears, and lips. It can sometimes spread to other sites like the lymph nodes and internal organs. Left untreated, this type of cancer can prove life-threatening. As with basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma can appear in many forms.

There are a variety of procedures available for the treatment of skin cancer. Surgeons at the Buckingham Center often team up with a Mohs surgeon, a specialized surgical dermatologist trained in microscopic removal of skin cancer. In so doing, the Mohs surgeon can perform the excision, after which our surgeon can perform the reconstruction, all on the same day.

After cancerous skin growths are surgically removed, plastic surgeons use their skill to reconstruct the surgical area. Our surgeons are dedicated to providing patients with results that offer the most pleasing appearance possible. The Mohs surgeon first removes the cancerous growth, and then the plastic surgeon performs the reconstruction. These two tasks can be completed on the same day, or on consecutive days depending on the situation. The surgeons at Buckingham Center use the latest techniques to restore soft tissue defects to an appearance and function that is as close as possible to their pre-surgical state

Some form of anesthesia will likely be used for your skin cancer treatment, though this will depend upon the particular procedure performed. Surgical procedures are often performed with both local anesthesia and sedation or general anesthesia.