Melanoma Surgery

Melanoma Surgery Plastic Surgeon David P. Rapaport, MD, FACS is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in private practice in Manhattan, New York.  The NYC Plastic Surgeon performs hundreds of Melanoma Surgery cases a year at his on-site fully accredited surgical suite in Manhattan, New York as an out-patient procedure.

Surgery to remove (excise) a melanoma removes the entire melanoma along with a border (margin) of normal-appearing skin. The width of the border of normal skin removed depends on the depth of the melanoma. Additional tissue, usually skin and fat, is also removed from under the melanoma.

Small excisions may be closed with stitches and heal without problems.
Large excisions or those located on the hands, face, or feet may require a skin graft to close the wound after surgery.

The type of anesthetic used for your melanoma surgery depends on the size and location of the melanoma. Surgery on small, easily reached melanomas may require only a local anesthetic, while surgery for larger melanomas may require general anesthesia.

The type of surgery that is done depends on the stage of the melanoma.

Primary melanoma (melanoma in situ or stage I or II cancer) is treated by the NYC Plastic Surgeon by surgical excision of the lesion. If the melanoma is thin and has not deeply invaded surrounding healthy tissues, completely removing it usually cures the cancer.

Stage III primary melanoma with lymph node involvement is treated by the Manhattan Plastic Surgeon with surgery to remove the primary melanoma and lymph nodes in the region of the primary melanoma.

Plastic Surgery to remove the primary melanoma usually cures melanoma in situ and stage I cancer. It often cures stage II cancer (local spread of melanoma). It may cure or extend survival rates for stage III cancer if the lymph nodes are also removed.1

By having this procedure performed by the NYC Plastic Surgeon you can be ensured that minimal scarring will result.

If you are interested in Melanoma Surgery and would like to learn more please make a Melanoma Surgery consultation with the Manhattan, New York Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, David Rapaport MD, FACS at his NYC office by phoning 212.752.1129.