Growths can appear almost anywhere on your body. While many are benign, some can eventually pose health problems. At Liu Dermatology, we remove both benign and malignant skin growths.
Most often, growths pose no physical risk. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have a powerful impact on your life. Many growths can appear in highly visible areas and make it difficult to build confidence in your appearance. So while there is often no bodily harm, they can cause significant psychological and emotional stress.
Dr. Liu is a skilled professional who can remove growths safely and expertly. If you have a growth and are considering removal, please schedule a surgical consultation with Dr. Liu.
Cysts can look like lumps under the skin, and start as small pockets of tissue encased in a capsule. Cysts can form on many different areas of the body, and may start as ingrown hairs, acne, or appear out of nowhere. Areas on which cysts may form include but are not limited to:
Typically, this type of growth will feel like a small hard nodule beneath the skin. They might start out small enough to not be visible, but that can change over time.
Without treatment, some cysts will continue to enlarge. At some point, this growth may burst, causing inflammation in surrounding tissue as well as discomfort. Other times, a cyst may remain stable for many years. Although cysts are not dangerous, they can be uncomfortable or unsightly.
Lipomas are benign growths that can form beneath the skin as an overgrowth of fat. They can cause both discomfort and cosmetic concern. Lipomas can be removed by a trained and experienced dermatologist.
Both cysts and lipomas can look and feel similar, so it is best to have any growths evaluated by a professional as soon as possible. In general, neither growth will go away on its own.
For both cyst removal and lipoma removal, we use a simple surgical procedure called an excision. The procedure is both quick and quite comfortable, as we use a local anesthetic to ensure you feel no discomfort during the procedure. The procedure is also very safe in that it's done only with local anesthesia (you will not be put to sleep).
Once a cyst or lipoma is removed, you should be able to return to your daily life with minimal restrictions in your activities during the wound healing process. When done properly, the procedure leaves little chance of recurrence. That means the odds are that your cyst or lipoma will not grow back.
However, after the surgery it is important to follow Dr. Liu's instructions for caring for the site. Though the incisions are small, allowing them to heal properly is vital for achieving optimal results.
If you have a growth that you would like removed, the first step is to schedule your consultation with Dr. Liu. She will walk you through the removal options, and together you can choose the one that best suits your needs. We provide complete information at every step of the process, so you are never in the dark about any aspect of your procedure. If you have questions at any point, we are happy to answer them.
