Dr. Chang’s commitment to excellence ensures that you receive the highest quality care, leaving you with minimal disruption to your appearance and enhanced confidence in your skin's look and feel. 

If you have benign skin or soft tissue lesions such as lipomas, moles, or cysts, surgical excision can offer a permanent and aesthetically pleasing solution. While these conditions are generally straightforward to address, the expertise of a plastic surgeon like Dr. Chang can significantly enhance the outcome. Dr. Chang specializes in the precise removal of these lesions through small, strategically placed incisions, minimizing both the visible impact and the risk of scarring. The key goal is to remove the lesion entirely while ensuring that the resulting scars are as inconspicuous as possible, blending seamlessly with your natural skin.

Overview & Why Choose Dr. Chang

Benign Skin & Soft Tissue Lesion Excision

  • Lipomas – Lipomas are benign tumors composed of fatty tissue. They are usually soft, movable, and painless, often appearing as small lumps under the skin. 

  • Moles / Nevi – Moles are common skin growths formed by clusters of pigmentproducing cells (melanocytes). They can vary in color, shape, and size.

  • Cysts (Epidermoid, Sebaceous, Mucous, Pilar) – Cysts are closed sacs filled with fluid, semi-solid material, or air. They may appear as bumps under the skin and can become inflamed or infected.

  • Skin Tags / Acrochordons – Skin tags are small, soft, benign growths that often hang from the skin by a thin stalk. They commonly appear in areas where the skin folds, such as the neck, armpits, or groin.

  • Milia – Milia are small, white bumps that appear on the skin due to trapped keratin. They are most commonly found on the face and can be bothersome.
 
  • Seborrheic Keratoses – Seborrheic keratoses are non-cancerous, wart-like growths that vary in color from light tan to black. They often have a rough, scaly surface and can appear on various parts of the body.

  • Actinic Keratoses – Actinic keratoses are precancerous growths caused by sun damage. They typically appear as rough, scaly patches on sun-exposed skin. While not malignant, removal is important to prevent progression to skin cancer.

  • Dermatofibromas – Dermatofibromas are firm, raised nodules composed of fibrous tissue that commonly occur on the arms or legs.

  • Neurofibromas – Neurofibromas are benign tumors of the nerve sheath that can appear as small, soft lumps under the skin. 

  • Pyogenic Granulomas – Pyogenic granulomas are small, red, and often bleeding growths that can appear following an injury or during pregnancy. 

  • Warts / Verrucae – Verrucae are benign growths caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). They appear as rough, raised bumps and can occur on various parts of the body.

  • Cherry Angiomas – Cherry angiomas are small, red or purple growths caused by dilated blood vessels.

  • Hemangiomas – Hemangiomas are benign tumors made up of blood vessels. They often appear as red or purple birthmarks and can vary in size.

  • Lymphangiomas – Lymphangiomas are rare, benign tumors of the lymphatic vessels that can appear as soft, spongy masses. 

Types of Conditions Treated

  •  Medical History Review – Dr. Chang reviews your symptoms associated with your skin or soft tissue lesion and your medical history, including any prior skin or soft tissue conditions, surgeries, or family history of skin or soft tissue cancer. This discussion helps identify any potential risk factors and guides the diagnostic approach.

  • Physical Examination – A thorough physical examination is conducted to assess the size, location, and characteristics (texture, mobility, associated symptoms, etc.) of the lesion or mass. This examination helps determine the most appropriate surgical approach and whether additional diagnostic tests are needed.

  • Diagnostic Imaging – Depending on the type, size, and location of the lesion, imaging studies such as ultrasound, CT scans, or MRI may be ordered. These imaging techniques provide detailed information about the lesion's depth, relationship with surrounding tissues, and potential impact on underlying structures. Most routine cases do not require imaging. If something on your history or physical examination suggests risk factors for a malignant, rather than benign, lesion, then Dr. Chang will recommend imaging prior to surgery. For very large or extensive lesions, imaging may also be useful. 

Pre-Operative

  • Operative Excision – Dr. Chang will try to use incisions in locations that conceal the final scar so that it is not as perceptible. In situations where there is not a natural transition zone to hide the scar, Dr. Chang will use the smallest incision possible that still ensures complete removal. After the lesion is removed, it is sent to pathology to determine a tissue diagnosis. The incision will be closed with absorbable or permanent sutures depending on the location.

  • Local Anesthesia – Small lesions that require routine excision can be performed under local anesthesia in the office.

  • General Anesthesia – For larger lesions, deeper lesions, or lesions nearby critical structures, Dr. Chang may recommend that the procedure be performed in the operating room under general anesthesia. 


Surgery 

  • Incomplete Lesion Excision – Sometimes, the entire lesion cannot be removed. If the tissue diagnosis is benign and you are not having any residual symptoms, no further treatment is required.

  • Lesion Recurrence – Even with a thorough resection, there is a possibility of the lesion returning.

  • Diagnosis of a Malignant Lesion – In rare cases, the tissue diagnosis shows a malignant (cancerous) lesion. Depending on the exact diagnosis, you may need further imaging, additional surgery, other adjuvant treatments, and treatment by a cancer specialist.

  • Poor Scarring – Everyone scars differently. The final scar takes 6-12 months to mature. In rare cases, hypertrophic scars or keloids may form and may require secondary revision.

  • Wound Healing Issues – There may be small areas where the incisions do not fully heal. In these cases, the wounds will be allowed to heal on their own with dressing changes. Severe cases may require a secondary revision procedure.

  • Infection – Infections are managed with antibiotics. In severe cases, you may need an additional procedure.

Complications

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