Surgical Dermatology

Surgical dermatology is a branch of dermatology that aims to treat and improve medical conditions of the skin, although surgical dermatology can also include cosmetic procedures. Dermatologic surgical procedures are designed to repair or improve the skin tissue’s function as well as treat conditions of the veins, nails and mucous membranes.

Surgical dermatology can include treatment of skin cancers – both benign and malignant – procedures for sun-damaged or aging skin, and cosmetic treatments to improve the appearance of skin.

Surgical dermatology procedures use traditional scalpel surgical techniques as well as laser surgery, electrosurgery, which uses a high-frequency electric current to heat and cut tissue with great precision, and cryosurgery, which involves the local application of extreme cold to destroy unwanted tissue.

Other surgical dermatology procedures include liposuction, eyelid repair (blepharoplasty) and earlobe repair. With new advances in technology, liposuction is usually an outpatient procedure that is done using only local anesthesia and promises minimal downtime and a fast recovery. Most blepharoplasty surgeries, which do away with sagging upper eyelids and puffy bags under the eyes, also are in-office procedures that require only local anesthesia and minimal recovery time. Earlobe surgeries repair lobes that have been torn, stretched or deformed, either due to ear piercing or other accidents.

Dermatologic surgeons also perform Mohs micrographic surgery for precise removal of cancerous skin growths while preserving as much of the healthy surrounding skin tissue as possible. The specialized Mohs technique uses a microscope for precise removal of cancerous tissue and is most often used for cancers on sensitive areas – such as the nose, eyelids, and lips – where it’s crucial to preserve as much tissue as possible.

Surgical dermatology can also include other minimally invasive procedures such as subcision, which is often used to treat scar tissue. Doctors use a probe to separate scar tissue from normal skin, and they sometimes inject filler between the scar tissue and the healthy tissue. Doing so helps elevate the scarred area so it’s level with the rest of the surrounding skin.

Mohs micrographic surgery

Mohs surgery is a treatment of skin cancer that involves the removal of skin cancer cells by layer and examines them immediately to determine next course of action and if enough layers have been removed in order to extract the cancerous cell levels. This procedure is best considered for more advanced or complicated cases of skin cancer. Read more about this treatment option from Ulmer and Wu Dermatology and schedule an appointment to determine if it’s the best option for you.

Earlobe repair

This is a surgical dermatology procedure designed to repair holes and tears on the earlobe created by earrings and gauges that are larger and essentially tear your ear. Reconstruction method will vary depending on the deformity or damage that has been done to your ear. Click through and contact the experts at Ulmer and Wu Dermatology to learn more about if earlobe repair is right for you.

Eyelid repair (blepharoplasty)

Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, improves the look of both under-eye puffiness and drooping eyelids. This procedure causes minimal scarring and recovery time is minimal. Achieve a more youthful and alert appearance by considering eyelid repair procedures from Ulmer and Wu Dermatology. Learn more about our techniques as well as available treatment options.

Keloid excision

Keloids are areas of tough skin and extra scar tissue, formed from healing of skin after scrapes, cuts, wounds, and other skin injuries. Keloid excision is a surgical dermatology procedure performed by our trained doctors in order to remove the keloids and scars from areas of your body in order to give you a more confident and smooth look.

Liposuction

Ulmer and Wu Dermatology offers a unique type of liposuction procedure designed to be less invasive with less downtime while still maintaining high levels of effectiveness. Performed under local anesthesia, you will be comfortable and alert while unwanted fat is removed from your desired body parts. Give yourself the gift of a revealing new shape with fast recovery with our outpatient VASER liposuction technique.

Subcision

If you have acne scars that have left depressed marks in your skin, then you may want to consider our subcision surgical dermatology procedure to help smooth the look of your face and skin. Through small punctures in the skin made by horizontal-leveled needles that essentially elevate the skin and break patterns of fibrotic strands in scar tissue, achieve a more confident look from the experts at Ulmer and Wu Dermatology.