Atrium Health Navicent Surgery Macon

Soft Tissue & Skin Surgeries

Young woman with soft looking skin

Common Treatments That Soft Tissue & Skin Surgeons in the Field of Outpatient Offer

General dermatologists perform surgeries on the skin that range from removing any suspicious bumps on the skin to performing the treatment of major burns. These professionals also have the skills to remove tumors that grow below the skin including fatty tumors and tumors that develop in soft tissues in the body such as the muscle tissues. Qualified soft tissue & skin surgeries in the field of outpatient dermatologists can also treat complex benign skin diseases such as skin cancer and skin infections. One of the latest techniques they use to treat such complications is skin grafting to treat several skin defects including skin trauma.

Treatments That Dermatologists Offer

Birthmark and Aging Spots Correction

This can be done using chemical peels, light, and laser based technology. Dermatological surgery procedures have advanced dramatically in the treatment of age spots and birthmarks. These are medically referred to as pigmented lesions and benign vascular. Qualified professionals can treat birthmarks of any size, color, and type on any part of your body. Dermatologists who focus on soft tissue & skin surgeries in the field of outpatient can choose to either use scalpels or not.

Hair Removal using Laser Technology

Light and laser based technologies have completely changed the cosmetic and therapeutic procedures in skin surgery. The long wavelengths of laser and light sources infiltrate through the melanin of the skin in the hair shaft and disable the hair follicles. This effectively removes any unwanted hair from the legs, back, face, and underarms from patients of any skin type. Laser technology can also remove and treat bumpy and inflamed skin that results from an ingrown hair.

Management of Skin Diseases: Vitiligo, Acne, Rosacea, And Psoriasis

The latest laser technology has enabled outpatient dermatologists to treat chronic skin diseases such as vitiligo, acne, rosacea, and psoriasis among many others. A decade ago these diseases required extensive invasive skin surgery and in some cases, they were resistant to the treatment offered at that time. However, today they can easily be controlled and treated.

Treatment of Veins

There are some treatments that are offered to remove or minimize spider or varicose veins. This condition is mostly experienced on the legs or face. When they are removed, their functions can be taken over by other healthy veins without causing any harm or severe side effects. The procedure of removing the spider veins include the use of pulsed light or laser therapy, ambulatory phlebectomy (removal of veins by making tiny incisions along the side of the enlarged vein), and sclerotherapy (an injection that collapses the affected vein).

Management of Scars

Whether your skin has developed scars from skin diseases such as chicken pox, acne, trauma of the skin, or stretch marks, many cosmetic and therapeutic skin remedies can improve how the scars appear. An outpatient dermatologist will use punch grafts, laser technology, and chemical peels to improve the scars.

Skin Rejuvenation Using Laser Resurfacing

If your skin has experienced significant damage from acne, wrinkles, and the sun, laser resurfacing can be used to solve these problems. Dermatologists use this technique to remove the top layer of the skin while smoothing the contours of the skin surface. Skin rejuvenation is also an ideal treatment for patients who have mild skin damage because it does not leave any wounds. This is done using non-ablative and light based lasers. They bypass the top layer of the skin, stimulate the production of collagens, and tighten the underlying skin.

Skin Cancer

Some forms of skin cancer can be eliminated easily by using minimal surgery. However, others require extensive skin surgery. There are two types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous. Your dermatologist will use either of the following skin surgery options:

  • Excision- This is the process of removing unhealthy cancer skin tissues and the surrounding areas of the skin. The surgeon then stitches the remaining skin carefully together.
  • Cryosurgery- Liquid nitrogen is sprayed on the unhealthy skin tissue to freeze and then destroy it.
  • Microscopically controlled surgery- The dermatologist removes a thin layer of the unhealthy skin tissue along with the skin tumor and then examines it under a microscope and continues removing the layers until all the tumors are no longer visible.
  • Curettage- A curette is a sharp surgical instrument that a surgeon uses to remove the unhealthy skin tissue.

Soft Skin Masses

Noncancerous tissues can grow anywhere in the body. However, in case you have any abnormal growths, your surgeon will check it first and then decide on whether to reduce it surgically or remove it completely.

Soft Tissue Fillers

Various synthetic and natural substances have been tested to identify whether they can make the skin smooth and beautiful when they are used. One of the substances that has been found to be very helpful is collagen. It is used in injections to erase wrinkles and fill plump hollows and furrows on the face. It has also been proved to boost the definition of the lips. Some skin depressions and scars have been found to respond positively to tissue fillers.

Neuromodulators

Neuromodulators are also referred to as botulinum toxins. Soft tissue & skin surgeons use botulinum injections to primarily paralyze the facial muscles that have caused frown lines, wrinkles, and crow's feet. The botulinum toxin works by relaxing the underlying facial muscles that cause wrinkles and the effect of this type of treatment lasts for four to five months. Dermatologists also use it to control excessive sweating and to improve the necklines.