Moles and birthmarks can occur on any part of the body. The removal of a birthmark or mole can be performed for cosmetic reasons; or for medical reasons if a skin cancer is suspected. In other words, some moles are removed purely for cosmetic reasons because they interfere or obscure the normal anatomy of the face or body. Other moles are removed because a physician or patient feels that there is a chance that the mole can develop into a malignancy or is at high risk of being malignant at the time of excision.
MAKING A DIAGNOSIS WITH A BIOPSY
Living in a beach community like Santa Monica can expose you to the harmful effects of UV sunlight. Moles can develop on the skin as a result of short-term exposure to the sun or long-term sun exposure from childhood.
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian at Kare Plastic Surgery + Skin Health Center in Santa Monica specializes in minimally-invasive options for mole removal, especially if there is a risk of atypia or dysplasia.
If you have developed a mole that has changed in color or size, you may be a candidate for a mole check followed by surgical mole excision to determine if there is any potential risk of skin cancer. Mole biopsies can help diagnose cellular changes in the skin that may develop into skin cancer.
Dr. Karamanoukian is a specialist in surgical mole removal and utilizes plastic surgery techniques to minimize scarring. He performs excisional biopsies, incisional biopsies, and shave biopsies in order to retrieve specimens for pathologic examination under the microscope. He works closely with John Wayne Cancer Center and Dr. Roupen Yaghsezian, a respected dermatopathologist who specializes in melanoma and skin cancers.
Seeking the expertise of a plastic surgeon who specializes in skin cancers and minimal-scar biopsies can help you diagnose early-stage changes in abnormal moles and minimize surgical scarring.
Patients who have developed abnormal scars from a mole removal or shave biopsy can be treated with lasers to help reduce scarring. Daily application of Plato’s Scar Serum is recommended.
CYST REMOVAL
In our Santa Monica plastic surgery practice, we specialize in the removal of cysts from the skin. A cyst is a skin-lined sac that begins to grow underneath the skin, often as a result of a clogged pore or hair follicle. Among the most common types of cysts are pilar cysts which grow on the scalp and epidermal inclusion cysts which form on the face, back, or chest. Most cysts are non-cancerous and only become a problem when they start to irritate the skin or become inflamed.
The treatment of cysts always begins with a careful examination of the skin. Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian is a top plastic surgeon in Santa Monica and can treat your cyst with as little scarring as possible. Surgical cyst removal is an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia to remove the cyst in its entirety. Once a cyst is removed, the incision is suture-closed to minimize scarring.
SKIN TAG REMOVAL
Skin tags are very common benign flaps of skin that usually show up in areas of skin to skin contact, most notably the eyelids, neck, armpits, and groin. Treatments include RF ablation, laser therapy, cryotherapy, and surgical excision. Our preferred method of treatment is a relatively painless non-surgical approach using Hyfrecation.
Skin tags are commonly seen along the face and neck and are treated using a noninvasive technique that uses electrodesiccation to gently remove the skin tag at its base. Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian and his clinical staff will begin the procedure by assessing whether the skin lesion is indeed a skin tag or an abnormal mole. Suspicious moles do require pathological examination to determine if there is any cancerous risk. Most skin tags, however, are benign and rarely recur. Electrodesiccation is a minimally invasive technique that can rid your body of unwanted skin tags in a clinic setting under local anesthesia. After your consultation
is complete. Dr. Karamanoukian will assess whether a same-day procedure can be performed to remove your skin tags in their entirety. There is minimal recovery after a skin tag removal in our Los Angeles plastic surgery office.
Skin tags on the body are commonly seen in the armpits, along the bra line, and in the groin. Regardless of the location of your skin tags, a same-day procedure can be performed to remove them using a minimally invasive technique known as electrodesiccation. The area is first numbed using a local anesthetic and careful dissection of the skin tag allows for removal with minimal chance of recurrence. Suspicious lesions are sent for pathologic examination.
Choosing the right dermatologist or clinician for your skin tags begins with thorough investigation into qualifications. Our office has a dedicated and comprehensive plastic surgery center with a fully accredited surgery center. Our surgical Director is Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, a double board-certified plastic surgeon who understands the complexities of mole removal using techniques that minimize scarring on the skin. There is very little aftercare after your skin tag removal with Kare Plastic Surgery and we advise patients to avoid excessive sun exposure after the procedure. If you have multiple skin tags, these can be removed in a single setting with our clinicians.
SYRINGOMAS
Syringomas are benign sweat gland tumors that show up on the upper and lower eyelids. They are first noticeable as raised, white-colored skin growths that increase in number along the eyelid skin. With time, the syringomas may enlarge in size, coalesce, and increase in density.
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian is an expert in syringoma treatment. He uses a protocol that includes fractional RF, Hyfrecation with electrodessication, and fractional skin resurfacing. Most patients also begin topical skin protocols that include Replenish cream and Melapads daily exfoliating pads.
LIPOMA REMOVAL
Lipomas are benign tumors of fat that occur underneath the skin. Although there is a very miniscule risk of malignancy, the majority of lipomas are not associated with cancer and can be safely removed with surgery. The cause of lipoma growth is unknown, with medical experts attributing the growth of lipomas to genetics and soft tissue trauma.
During your consultation with Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian at Kare Plastic Surgery in Santa Monica, he will evaluate your lipoma to determine your candidacy for surgical removal. Clinical signs will point to the location of the lipoma underneath the skin and whether it is located within the subcutaneous fat or subfascial plane. Lipoma removal is relatively straightforward, twith a small risk of scarring from the incision site.
XANTHELESMA
Xanthelesma are benign cholesterol deposits underneath the skin of the upper and lower eyelids. Treatments vary depending on skin type and the size of your xanthelesma. Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian specializes in non-surgical hyfrecation of these benign moles.
