What's involved with removing these lesions?
Almost everyone has several moles and/or other benign skin growths on their bodies. Sometimes, these growths can be located in cosmetically sensitive areas such as the face and you may be self-conscious about their appearance. They may give you unwanted attention, or have grown in size and now bother you. Other times, they may get irritated by clothing or be in hard to reach areas. These benign skin growths can include moles, skin tags, seborrheic keratoses, dermatofibromas, red spots (cherry angiomas), etc.
Other times, lumps and bumps may actually lie beneath the surface of the skin. These commonly include cysts and lipomas. Cysts are very common and are typically found on the scalp, face/neck, chest, and back, but can be found virtually anywhere. They may be slow-growing and persist for years, with occasional drainage of sebaceous material. Other times, these can become infected requiring drainage and antibiotics. They may be detected on the scalp as a firm lump just below the skin. Cysts are often annoying and many patients wish to have them removed, which involves removing the entire capsule (sac) to reduce the risk of any recurrence, and is a procedure that can be done under local anesthetic with minimal downtime.
Lipomas are usually softer lumps that are simply benign growths of fatty tissue (adipocytes). They can again be slow-growing and the lumps usually become annoying or unsightly. They are often seen on the forehead, neck, shoulders, chest, back, and forearms. Sometimes, there can be multiple lumps over someone’s body and this can be hereditary in nature. These lumps can be removed under local anesthetic with minimal downtime.
Dr. Sharma will discuss the procedure along with the pros and cons including the scar placement with you to determine what is best for your individual needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are these procedures covered by OHIP?
Generally these procedures are not covered by OHIP, unless there is a strong suspicion for malignancy (cancer) or significant disease, after being assessed by Dr. Sharma.
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Do I need a referral from another doctor?
No. There is often a waitlist of 1-year or more for patients who are referred by their family doctor for these consultations. If you wish to avoid going through the referral process, you can opt to pay for an uninsured consultation with Dr. Sharma and contact our office directly to set up an appointment. If it is determined that the procedure for removal/excision is covered by OHIP, then there is no charge for the procedure itself. If the procedure is not covered by OHIP, then there will be an additional charge for the procedure that will be quoted to you if you wish to have this done after discussing the details with you.
If you are referred by your family doctor, then there is no charge for the consultation, however if it is determined that the procedure is not covered by OHIP then you will be informed about any fees involved with the procedure for removal/excision.
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What happens on the day of the procedure?
Surgery takes place in our procedure room with you awake using local anesthetic, and often takes between 30-60 minutes. You are comfortable throughout the procedure and do not feel any pain, with this being much preferred by patients compared to simple dental procedures or cleanings. All post-operative instructions will be given to you before going home. You do not have to fast for these procedures and can drive to and from the office for these procedures, much like going in for a haircut.
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What happens after the procedure?
There is minimal downtime with these procedures, and most of the time you can return back to work/school without needing to take time off. Depending on the location, you may need to refrain from strenuous activity/exercise for a few days and all precautions will be discussed with you. The stitches may be dissolving. Lesions removed on the face are usually treated with different stitches that need to be removed 1 week or so after the procedure. You will be able to shower and wash with soap and water the next day and all instructions will be reviewed with you.
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