Skin & Soft Tissue Surgery

The following are the procedures on skin and soft tissue offered in our practice.

Lipomas are benign fatty tumors that may be present within the subcutaneous tissue of the torso and the extremities. They can be felt as soft nodules under the skin. They are usually small, but with time, they can grow in size. Lipomas are usually painless, but they can become painful as a result of inflammation. Sometimes, lipomas can occur within the abdominal cavity. Treatment of lipomas include observation or surgical excision. In the early stage, they are safe to observe. If they grow in size, become symptomatic, or if they are cosmetically unappealing, they can be excised. Surgery for removal of lipoma is relatively simple, takes 10-15 minutes, and is performed under sedation at an ambulatory surgery center. There are usually no restrictions following surgery, and recovery is within 1-2 days.

Sebaceous or Keratinous cysts are benign cysts that exist in the subcutaneous tissues of scalp, face, torso, or extremities. They are round, firm, and fixed underneath the skin. They can get infected, causing pain, redness, and drainage. During an active infection, treatment includes antibiotics, followed by incision and drainage if necessary. After the infection subsides, the definite treatment is via surgical excision in order to prevent a recurrence. Surgery for excision of sebaceous cyst is relatively simple. It takes 10-15 minutes and is performed under sedation at an ambulatory surgery center. There are usually no restrictions following surgery, and recovery is within 1-2 days.

Lymph nodes may be enlarged due to inflammation, infection, or cancer. In the absence of signs and symptoms of inflammation or infection, lymph nodes larger than 1 cm, growing in size, or present in multiple locations, may require biopsy to rule out cancer. Sometimes imaging such as ultrasound or CT scan may provide additional information that will help in planning of surgery. An excisional lymph node biopsy is a relatively simple procedure. It is performed under sedation at an ambulatory surgery center. It usually takes 15 minutes to complete. Recovery is within 1-2 days.