Nevus removal
- Duration of intervention The intervention takes place on an outpatient basis and lasts a few minutes
- Type of anesthesia Local anesthesia
- Recovery times Recovery, except in rare cases, is immediate but for a few days you will have to pay attention to any trauma and avoid wetting the wound
What are nevus
Nevus are pigmented lesions of the skin that tend to appear with growth: it is very rare that they are present right from birth.
Up to about 40 years it can happen that new ones appear; other times they can increase in particular situations (for example during pregnancy). They generally regress with old age.
The nevus have a mostly symmetrical shape (round or oval), with clear edges that are not jagged and a homogeneous complexion . Normally they do not grow and retain small normal skin furrows on their surface. These features distinguish it from melanoma.
The types of nevus and their characteristics
There are 3 types of nevus:
- Junctional
- Composites
- Intradermal
Junctional and composite nevus
Junctional and composite nevus are at risk, albeit very low, of degeneration. Their appearance is very varied but in principle they are flat or slightly raised lesions, with a homogeneous color ranging from light brown to black or with some darker dots arranged in a regular way.
Intradermal nevus
Intradermal nevus are often hemispherical, domed and in relief, with a moriform, warty or regular surface, sometimes with hair. The complexion may be pale, brown or regular black.
How nevus are removed
Nevus are benign lesions and can only be removed if considered to be at risk of transformation or if the patient wishes to remove them for aesthetic reasons.
The removal of the nevus takes place through a small incision that passes just outside the edge of the nerve in order to remove it completely. It is good that each removed nevus is also subjected to a histological examination to verify its benignity and complete eradication.
Surgical techniques must respect the aesthetics of the result as much as possible: for this purpose the technique of the intradermal structure is widely used, which usually allows for the best aesthetic results.
Melanoma removal
- Intervention duration 30-60 minutes
- Type of anesthesia Local anesthesia, truncular anesthesia or general sedation, depending on the size and location of the melanoma
- Recovery times 2-3 days
What is a melanoma and how is it recognized
Melanoma is an infrequent malignant growth that in most cases results from the transformation of a nevus , but in other cases it arises on previously normal skin. Clinical signs that can herald the transformation of a nevus into melanoma are:
- Irregularity of the edges (which are rather jagged and not sharp as in the nevus)
- Irregularity of pigmentation (the lesion may be black, but often may have markedly black areas next to others that are more nuanced or even very light brown in color)
- Asymmetrical shape
- More or less rapid growth
- Ulceration and bleeding (late sign)
Is it a melanoma? How is the diagnosis made
The video dermoscopy or epiluminescence technique is the most used for the differential diagnosis of skin lesions, in particular of nevus and their risk indices.
This method uses optical technology which, through a miniaturized camera, transfers the enlarged image of the nevus to be evaluated on a computer screen.
The computer, with a special program, is able to examine the finest structural details of the nevus so that the doctor can express a precise assessment of the risk.
The image can also be stored for comparison over time.
Removal of melanoma: how it works
The removal of a melanoma is surgical and takes place with various types of approaches depending on the location and size of the lesion.
In various cases, a staging is performed which will be followed, if indicated, by other specific therapies.
Treatment of skin epitheliomas: diagnosis and treatment of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma
- Intervention duration From 20 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the size reached at the time of surgery and the site of the lesion
- Type of anesthesia Local anesthesia in minutes, truncular anesthesia or sedation / general depending on the size and location
- Recovery times It depends on the location and extent of the removal
What are skin epitheliomas
Skin epitheliomas, ie basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, are the most common cancers in white people older, especially if chronically exposed to the sun without protection. In rare cases, they can also affect young people due to an individual or family predisposition.
The face is one of the areas most exposed to ultraviolet rays and, for this reason, it is also the region with the greatest incidence.
How is the diagnosis made
Diagnosis can be made with careful examination of the skin lesion. Skin epitheliomas must be diagnosed as soon as possible to remove them in the initial phase, so that the removal operation is limited, minimally invasive and leaves no visible signs.
Surgical intervention
Depending on the affected area and the development reached by the epithelioma at the time of diagnosis, most of the time the surgical removal can be carried out in a single session, with immediate reconstruction of the operated part.
The plastic surgery techniques used can be more or less complex, also based on the area affected by the epithelioma (nose, eyelids, ears, lips, etc.) and the development achieved by the lesion.
