What are my chances of scarring following a biopsy or removal of a skin growth including cancer?
It is impossible for any physician, regardless of the extent of experience and training, to remove a growth from the skin without leaving a scar. The techniques we utilize, however, allow us to minimize the degree of scarring. In some cases, the resulting mark may be so inconspicuous that it is hard to find even when looking for it. A patient’s risk of noticeable scarring is related to many factors, including the location of the lesion on the skin surface, his or her personal tendency towards scarring, the quality of the wound care, his or her ability to avoid sun exposure on the healing area, the degree of compliance with tobacco avoidance instructions, and surgical technique. Despite our best efforts, though, some degree of scarring is an inevitable part of having surgery.
