Kare Plastic Surgery and Skin Health Center · Los Angeles
Skin Cancer Removal Dermatologist
Los Angeles
804 7th Street Santa Monica CA 90403 · (310) 998-5533
Dermoscopy diagnosis, same-day biopsy, and minimally scarring basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma removal by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Tiffany Sierro at Kare Plastic Surgery
Call (310) 998-5533 Schedule a Skin Cancer Screening
BoardCertified Dermatologist
DermoscopyExpert Diagnosis
Same-DaySkin Biopsy
BCC & SCCExcision Specialist
Minimal ScarSurgical Technique
Skin Cancer Removal Dermatologist Los Angeles
Skin Cancer Is Curable When Found Early. The Dermatologist Who Finds It Makes All the Difference.
Dr. Tiffany Sierro MD Board-Certified Dermatologist Dermoscopy · BCC · SCC · Same-Day Biopsy · Minimal Scar Excision · Kare Plastic Surgery Los Angeles
In Southern California, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are among the most frequently diagnosed cancers. Year-round UV exposure, a culture of outdoor activity, and decades of tanning create a cumulative UV burden that generates skin cancers at higher rates than almost anywhere else in the United States. The critical variable is not whether patients will develop skin cancer but whether it will be caught early enough to treat simply and completely.
At Kare Plastic Surgery, Dr. Tiffany Sierro MD brings a dermatologist's precision to every skin cancer evaluation. Every suspicious lesion is assessed with dermoscopy before any biopsy decision is made. Dermoscopy reveals the subsurface architecture of skin lesions at 10 to 40x magnification, improving skin cancer detection accuracy by up to 35 percent over the naked eye. When a lesion warrants biopsy, Dr. Sierro performs it the same day. When a diagnosis is confirmed, the excision is planned to maximize cancer-free margins with the smallest possible scar.
Do not wait for your annual exam if you notice: a new or changing spot on sun-exposed skin, a sore that does not heal, a bump that bleeds with minor contact, a rough scaly patch that grows over weeks, or a pink lesion with visible blood vessels. Call Dr. Sierro at Kare Plastic Surgery: (310) 998-5533.
Kare Plastic Surgery · Los Angeles · (310) 998-5533
Suspicious spot or overdue for a skin cancer screening? Schedule your evaluation with Dr. Sierro today.
Clinical Documentation · Kare Skin Cancer Center · Dr. Tiffany Sierro
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Scalp · Excision at Kare Plastic Surgery Los Angeles
Actual patient at Kare Plastic Surgery · Squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp evaluated and excised by Dr. Tiffany Sierro · Immediately post-excision
SCC Scalp Excision · Kare Skin Cancer Center · Dr. Sierro · Los Angeles Squamous cell carcinoma excised with clear margins from the scalp under local anesthesia · Fine suture closure · Dermatopathology confirmed margins
Why the Scalp Is High Risk
The scalp is one of the highest-risk locations for squamous cell carcinoma in male patients with thinning hair. Years of unprotected UV exposure to the scalp surface accumulate silently. SCC on the scalp grows on a background of actinic damage and can invade deeply before becoming symptomatic. Early excision with confirmed clear margins is the standard of care. Dr. Sierro evaluates the scalp at every full body skin cancer screening at Kare Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Sierro's Technique
This SCC was excised with a circumferential margin of normal skin verified by dermoscopy evaluation before marking the excision boundaries. The excision was performed under local anesthesia in the office. The round defect was closed with a purse-string or layered closure technique to minimize the scar. The specimen was sent for margin assessment to a board-certified dermatopathologist. Results were reviewed with the patient within days.
Minimal Scarring Approach
Minimally scarring excision is a priority at every skin cancer removal at Kare Plastic Surgery. For scalp lesions Dr. Sierro uses fine nylon sutures and tension-free closure technique that hides the resulting scar within the natural scalp contour. For complex defects requiring reconstruction, the integrated plastic surgery team at Kare Plastic Surgery is available for flap or graft closure in the same surgical session.
Warning Signs of Skin Cancer
Know the Warning Signs — See Dr. Sierro If You Notice Any of These
A Asymmetry One half does not mirror the other
B Border Irregular or ragged edges
C Color Multiple shades within one lesion
D Diameter Larger than 6mm or growing
E Evolving Any change in size, shape, or color
Skin Cancers Dr. Sierro Diagnoses and Removes in Los Angeles
Basal Cell Carcinoma
The most common cancer in the US. BCC rarely metastasizes but causes progressive local tissue destruction. It appears as a pearly pink bump with rolled borders, often with visible blood vessels. Nodular, superficial, and morpheaform subtypes require different treatment approaches. Dr. Sierro uses dermoscopy to identify BCC subtype before planning excision margins. BCC on the face and around the eyes is referred for Mohs surgery with plastic surgery reconstruction at Kare Plastic Surgery.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
The second most common skin cancer with real metastatic risk. SCC on the lip and ear carries a 10 to 30 percent risk of regional spread. SCC often arises from actinic keratoses on chronically sun-damaged skin. Dr. Sierro excises SCC with evidence-based margins and coordinates sentinel lymph node evaluation for high-risk lesions. Dermatopathology margin assessment is performed on every excised SCC specimen.
Melanoma
The most dangerous form of skin cancer. Stage I melanoma has a 98 percent five-year survival rate. Stage IV has less than 30 percent. The difference is detection timing. Dr. Sierro uses dermoscopy to identify melanoma-specific patterns including atypical pigment network, blue-white veil, and regression structures. Same-day excisional biopsy is performed for any lesion with melanoma features. Confirmed melanoma triggers a comprehensive staging and treatment protocol at Kare Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Sierro's Skin Cancer Services at Kare Plastic Surgery
Dermoscopy-Enhanced Diagnosis
Every lesion evaluated at Kare Plastic Surgery receives dermoscopy examination before any biopsy decision. Dermoscopy at 10 to 40x magnification reveals the subsurface pigment network, vascular patterns, and structural features of skin cancer that are invisible to the naked eye. Dr. Sierro applies evidence-based dermoscopy criteria for BCC, SCC, and melanoma to every lesion she evaluates. This improves diagnostic accuracy, reduces unnecessary biopsies of benign lesions, and ensures that concerning lesions are addressed immediately.
Same-Day Skin Biopsy
When dermoscopy identifies features concerning for skin cancer Dr. Sierro performs the biopsy the same day under local anesthesia. Shave, punch, or excisional biopsy technique is selected based on lesion type and location. Same-day biopsy eliminates the delay between identification and diagnosis. All specimens are reviewed by a board-certified dermatopathologist. Results are communicated to the patient within days and a treatment plan is established immediately after diagnosis is confirmed.
Minimally Scarring Excision
Confirmed BCC and SCC are excised by Dr. Sierro with evidence-based surgical margins under local anesthesia. Her excision technique uses layered plastic surgery suture closure for the finest possible scar. For complex defects on the nose, periorbital area, lip, or ear, Mohs surgery is coordinated and the plastic surgery team at Kare Plastic Surgery provides post-Mohs reconstruction for challenging defects. This integrated approach is the defining advantage of skin cancer care at Kare Plastic Surgery.
Post-Treatment Surveillance
Every patient treated for skin cancer at Kare Plastic Surgery is enrolled in a surveillance program. BCC and SCC patients are screened every 6 months. Melanoma patients are screened every 3 months for the first 2 years. Each visit includes full-body dermoscopy evaluation and same-day biopsy of any new or changing lesion. Patients who have had one skin cancer have a 40 to 50 percent chance of developing a new skin cancer within 5 years. Surveillance is the most effective strategy to catch these early.
The Kare Plastic Surgery advantage: Most dermatology practices refer complex skin cancer excisions and all reconstruction elsewhere. At Kare Plastic Surgery, Dr. Sierro works alongside board-certified plastic surgeons in the same building. Complex skin cancer excisions, post-Mohs reconstruction, and full-thickness defect repair are all available without sending patients to another practice. Patients receive seamless dermatology-plastic surgery coordination in one location. Call (310) 998-5533.
"In Los Angeles, skin cancer is not a rare event. It is a near-certainty for patients over 50 with a history of sun exposure. The question is not whether it will appear but whether you have a dermatologist who finds it early. That is the entire job. Find it early. Treat it simply. Confirm clear margins. That sequence saves lives."
— Dr. Tiffany Sierro MD · Board-Certified Dermatologist · Kare Plastic Surgery Los Angeles
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best skin cancer removal dermatologist in Los Angeles?
Dr. Tiffany Sierro MD is a board-certified dermatologist at Kare Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles who specializes in dermoscopy diagnosis and minimally scarring excision of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. Same-day biopsy is available at every screening visit. Call (310) 998-5533.
What is dermoscopy and why does it matter for skin cancer diagnosis in Los Angeles?
Dermoscopy is magnified polarized light examination of skin lesions that reveals subsurface structures invisible to the naked eye. Dr. Sierro uses dermoscopy on every suspicious lesion at Kare Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles, improving diagnosis accuracy by up to 35 percent over visual examination alone. Call (310) 998-5533.
What is the difference between basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma?
BCC is the most common skin cancer and rarely spreads but destroys local tissue if untreated. SCC carries real metastatic risk especially on the lip and ear. Both are treated with surgical excision at Kare Plastic Surgery by Dr. Sierro with dermatopathology margin confirmation. Call (310) 998-5533.
Schedule Your Skin Cancer Evaluation
Kare Plastic Surgery · Santa Monica · 804 7th Street
Schedule Your Skin Cancer Screening with Dr. Sierro
Dr. Tiffany Sierro is a board-certified dermatologist at Kare Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles who provides expert skin cancer diagnosis and removal. Dermoscopy evaluation, same-day biopsy, minimally scarring excision, and integrated plastic surgery reconstruction are all available at one address. Same-week appointments available.