What Is Dermatology?

Cosmetic Procedures Dermatologists Perform

Dermatologists perform cosmetic procedures such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels to enhance the texture and tone of the skin, and they also treat fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots with topical treatments and injections of fillers or botulinum toxin A. They provide laser procedures for tattoo removal, and they can also treat scars, stretch marks, and saggy skin with laser skin resurfacing or laser skin tightening. Some dermatologists are trained in performing sclerotherapy to remove varicose veins, and these doctors treat acne with topical treatments and oral medications.

Patients unhappy with the size or shape of their lips may choose to undergo a lip augmentation procedure with a cosmetic dermatologist, and this may involve fat injections and skin grafts. Dermatologists can perform neck liposuction procedures designed to reshape the neck, and patients might also choose to see a dermatologist for eyelid surgery. This operation takes one to three hours, and it is performed under general anesthesia. Unwanted skin and fat are removed from the eyelid area, and the eye muscles are tightened.

Medical Procedures Dermatologists Perform

Operations to remove precancerous and cancerous skin lesions are among the most common medical procedures dermatologists perform. After examining the lesion, the dermatologist may decide to perform a biopsy. This procedure uses a local anesthetic, and it involves removing a small area of the lesion. If cancer is detected, the dermatologist will remove the entire lesion and some of the surrounding skin.

For advanced or large cancerous lesions, dermatologists may need to perform Mohs surgery. This procedure was developed in 1938, and it is performed under local anesthesia. The surgeon removes a small area of the lesion, and it is examined under a microscope. Depending on the results, the surgeon may continue removing deeper areas of the lesion until they reach a layer of skin where there are no cancerous cells. This procedure can take several hours, and recovery may take weeks or months. In addition to procedures for skin cancer, dermatologists perform cryotherapy for the removal of warts.