Home | Directions | Find a Job | News | Choose a Department

Reconstructive Procedures

Skin Cancer


Being diagnosed with skin cancer can be devastating news. If the removal of cancerous growths or skin lesions results in scars or disfigurement of the skin that can be even more devastating. But, surgery to treat skin cancer may be the only effective way to cure an individual with cancer.

The Procedure
Surgical procedures to treat skin cancer vary. At Albany Medical Center, our plastic surgeons are experts in determining the most appropriate procedure for treating patients with skin cancer.

For the removal of lesions, excisions are made. Specialized techniques may be performed to remove a larger region of cancerous skin cells. After removal of the lesion or growth, reconstruction is performed typically with a local flap. A local flap repositions healthy, adjacent tissue over the wound. A skin graft, healthy skin removed from one area of the body and relocated to the wound site, may also be applied.

The Recovery

Reconstructive surgery for the treatment of skin cancer may effectively cure a person with cancer. Additional surgeries may be needed to reduce scarring and restore the skin’s natural appearance, but your Albany Medical Center plastic surgeon will make every effort to treat your skin cancer without dramatically changing your appearance.