Early Squamous Cell and Basal Cell Treatment with Cryosurgery
Skin Cancer Care Specialists | January 9, 2019
Cryosurgery, a treatment performed to remove some early types of skin cancer, uses liquid nitrogen to freeze basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas as well as age spots and growths such as skin tags or warts. Before administering this treatment, it is important that Dr. Weisberg first examines the patient’s skin condition and understands their health history to determine if cryosurgery is the best option. Cryosurgery is generally used on cancers or precancerous lesions that have little to no risk of spreading to deeper regions of the skin.
Unlike other forms of cancer surgeries, there is no special preparation that needs to be done before treatment can begin. During the process, liquid nitrogen is delivered either using a cotton swab or sprayed directly onto the skin in order to quickly freeze the affected tissue. When the liquid nitrogen is applied patients may feel a slight burning sensation on the area being treated, however, local anesthesia is typically not required.
After cryosurgery, it is common to experience some redness and swelling at the application site. Fluid may ooze from the treatment site until the formation of a crust begins, so it is important to wash the area thoroughly for several days after surgery. If patients experience any discomfort, over-the-counter pain reliever can be taken if necessary. Healing time varies depending on which part of the body was treated and can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks. Similar to any surgery or skin treatment, there is the potential for some minor complications such as swelling, scarring, pigmentation and blistering at the treatment site.
If you are interested in learning more about cryosurgery or to find out if you are a good candidate for this procedure, call Skin Cancer Care Specialists today at 561-775-6011.
<<< Previous
