What is it?

Excisions are a common practice for eliminating lesions from your skin by completely cutting them out. They are regularly used to remove an undesirable or potentially harmful lesion. Lesions that pose a threat include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma. However, an excision can also be implemented to eliminate a benign (non-cancerous) lesion for aesthetic purposes or to alleviate irritation.

Excision is often referred to as a biopsy when used to obtain a sample for lab diagnosis. A biopsy is a procedure where a tissue sample is taken from your body for microscopic examination. This diagnostic test is routinely used to determine the nature of skin abnormalities such as moles, lesions, rashes or growths—which could be symptoms of skin disorders—allergies, infections or cancer. It also serves to monitor the progress of treatment in certain conditions. Our board-certified dermatology team contacts patients promptly upon completing the lab diagnosis, reducing the wait time for results.

What to expect

Post-procedure home care following an excision is generally uncomplicated and straightforward. Our Dermatology & Skin Surgery Centers’ board-certified dermatologists and skin care specialists will provide you with guidelines to follow the days following your treatment. These instructions typically encompass changing your dressing, cleansing the treated area and applying a topical remedy to expedite healing and avert infection. We proudly serve patients in our Adrian, Battle Creek, Dowagiac, Hillsdale, Jackson, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Sturgis, Michigan, and Angola, Elkhart, Goshen and Plymouth, Indiana locations. We are dedicated to ensuring your recovery process is as smooth and comfortable as possible.