Our love for the outdoors and sun-kissed days comes with a price – a high risk of skin cancer.
Dr. Nena Deskoulidi is a European Board plastic surgeon with years of expertise in complex skin cancer surgery and her further training in Australia gave her unique experience to guide you through your skin cancer treatment and recovery journey.
In her practice she has performed thousands of mole and skin lesion excisions for her patients. She believes that plastic surgeons are best equipped to perform this procedures, as the scars are often much shorter and of better quality than with other specialities.
A skin lesion is a general term for a mark or a growth on the skin. Skin lesions commonly occur on the face or the head and neck region. They can be cancerous or non-cancerous.
The cancerous lesions such as BCC, SCC and Melanoma, are of most concern and require timely removal whilst the usually harmless cysts, warts, birthmarks, moles and keratosis can often be removed or even left untreated if not causing discomfort and are not of cosmetic concern.
Small skin lesions can be excised and the wound directly closed with sutures under local anaesthetic. Larger more complex lesions and lesions in older patients are more likely to be removed in a hospital setting, usually as a day case. Larger lesions may also require a skin flap or skin graft to help fill the open wound remaining after excision of the lesion.
The most common non-melanoma skin cancers we see at the practice are Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). BCCs tend to be slower growing (over a period of months to years) whilst SCCs grow at a faster rate (over several weeks or months). BCCs make up about 70% of non-melanoma skin cancers whilst SCCs account for the remaining 30%. In the majority of cases these skin cancers are less likely to spread to other parts of the body, but if left untreated can result in local invasion into the soft tissues, bones, nerves and vessels.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops from the cells which give your skin it’s colour (melanocytes). Whilst it is less common than other types of skin cancer, it is one of the most serious due to its ability to recur or spread to other areas of the body.
Dr. Nena Deskoulidi performs regulary wide excision of melanoma lesions and sentinel lymph node biopsy for staging purposes in her practice. According to the pathology result and aftera multi-disciplinary meeting (MDT) the patients are getting from the Oncologists a combination treatment of immunotherapy and mRNA-4157 (V940) vaccine or immunotherapy only. Few patients are proceed nowadays for complete lymph node dissection in case of a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy.
Regarding the excision of skin cancers on the face is to avoid skin grafts in these areas at all cost. This is because skin grafts which are harvested from different areas of the face or body can be problematical when it comes to matching skin colour and texture, leaving a noticeable patch on the skin of the face. So to overcome this problem, Dr.Nena Deskoulidi usually closes these defects with flaps.
Advanced head and neck malignancy requires specialised care and a team approach. Dr. Nena Deskoulidi is a proud Fellow of St.Vincent’s Hospital in Syndey under RACS college and performed many complex cases of head and neck reconstruction with free flaps. She performs complex microsurgery reconstruction cases as a specialist since 2020.
Patients are often worried about the resultant scar, but from her experience the scar will eventually look less prominent than the original mole. With time the scar will fade and be hardly perceptible. Post-operatively, She recommends the scar is tapped and a special scar cream and silicone sheet applied by the patient for 2-3 months. This technique results in minimal scarring and offers great results.
Why choose Dr.Nena Deskoulidi for your skin cancer surgery?
Dr.Nena Deskoulidi has years of expertise in complex skin cancer surgery. During the consultation, Dr.Nena Deskoulidi will provide you with personalised guidance tailored to your unique skin condition, the size and location of your skin lesion, and potential factors contributing to your cancerous condition. Together, you’ll explore the various factors that may have led to your skin cancer, such as genetics, sun exposure, and other relevant factors.
In most cases, skin cancer removal entails utilising an excision technique, often requiring sutures for closure. In instances where the skin cancer is of considerable size, DrNena Deskoulidi may recommend advanced techniques like skin grafts or skin flaps to ensure optimal healing and aesthetic outcomes. The majority of skin cancer removal procedures can be conveniently performed as day surgery, with the choice of local anaesthetic or intravenous sedation to maximise your comfort.
Dr. Nena Deskoulidi is dedicated to minimising post-operative scarring while emphasising the primary goal of skin cancer treatment: complete excision of cancerous cells, a full cure and not recurrences
