All of the procedures that we perform are performed with the utmost care for our patients. We take great pride in our patients. We work to make every visit as productive and informative as possible.
If you are interested in any of our procedures, please contact us for a consultation. We would be happy to enlighten you on these procedures and how they may benefit you. Each person is given comprehensive and individualized patient care.
MOHS MICROGRAPHIC SURGERY
Mohs’ Micrographic Surgery is a state-of-the-art treatment for skin cancer in which the physician serves as surgeon, pathologist and often reconstructive surgeon. It relies on the accuracy of a map of the diseased tissue area and the precision of a microscope to trace out and ensure complete removal of the skin cancer – down to its roots. Immediate on-site microscopic examination of the tumor allows the surgeon to see beyond what is visible to the eye and identify the diseased tissue and remove only the diseased tissue saving the most intact tissue.
American College of Mohs’ Surgery fellowship-trained surgeons have extensive training in reconstructive surgery and are generally able to perform the reconstructive surgery immediately after microscopic analysis confirms that the cancer is completely removed. Dr. Carter G. Abel is a Board Certified dermatologist whose thorough knowledge of the skin and its healing properties helps produce the best cosmetic result possible.Mohs’ Micrographic Surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis, in one day, under local anesthesia. The healing process is similar to that of most surgical procedures. Of all treatments for skin cancer, Mohs’ Micrographic Surgery offers the highest cure rate (up to 99% for basal and squamous cell carcinomas) with minimal discomfort and scarring.
EXCISIONAL SURGERY
Excisional surgery is the traditional removal process for various skin cancers. This involves the removal of the skin and a margin around the lesion for the purpose of obtaining clear edges. Following the excision of the skin cancer, layered closure is performed by the doctor.
LASER HAIR REDUCTION
You may be surprised to learn that virtually your entire body is covered with hair. Because most of this hair is fine and pale, it usually isn’t visible to the naked eye. When darker, coarser hair appears in places which may make you uncomfortable—like on the face, neck, abdomen, legs or underarms in women or on the shoulders, chest and back in men, it may be time to consider hair reduction. In the past, the usual remedies for unwanted hair included plucking, shaving, waxing or chemical depilatories. Some are painful, some are messy and all are only temporary. Laser hair removal is a more effective solution. A laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light. The light emitted is well absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicles. During the procedure, the laser pulses long enough to heat up the hair and significantly impede the follicle’s ability to re-grow. Our office uses a state-of-the-art laser system called the Lumenis Light Sheer Diode Laser, which can treat many different skin types.
IPL PHOTOREJUVENATION
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Therapy can treat benign vascular and non-vascular skin conditions to lighten, fade, improve or remove the unwanted blood vessels, freckles, birthmarks, uneven skin coloring, tone or texture. The wavelength, exposure, duration and energy level are chosen to selectively damage targeted blood vessels with minimum damage to the surrounding tissue. The light is absorbed either superficially by broken capillaries and dark pigmentation or deeper by larger vessels and collagen. Dilated capillaries coagulate, pigmented lesions darken and then slough off, and new collagen fibers are laid down, giving the skin a renewed and more youthful appearance. Our office uses a state-of-the-art laser system called the Lumenis Universal IPL, which produces excellent results.
CHEMICAL PEELS
Chemical peeling is used to improve the skin’s appearance by applying a medical-grade chemical solution to the skin, causing the top layers of skin to separate and peel off. The new skin is smoother, less wrinkled, and may be more even in color.
BOTOX®
Botox® Cosmetic treatment is a simple, non-surgical procedure that smoothes the persistent lines between your brows that have developed over time. One ten-minute treatment—a few tiny injections—relaxes the muscles that cause those lines to form and keeps them relaxed for four to six months. Botox® Cosmetic has been widely tested and has been approved by the FDA since 2004.
The results are dramatic and apparent within days. In clinical trials, nearly 90% of the men and women surveyed rated the improvement in their brow lines as moderate to better. For many, Botox® Cosmetic virtually “erases” these lines.
Unlike surgery, Botox® Cosmetic is fast, simple, and minimally invasive, with no downtime or recovery. Most people return directly to work or normal activity following treatment. Within days, they report looking more natural and relaxed. With Botox® Cosmetic, they’ll know you’ve done something, they just won’t know what. Botox® is the #1 non-surgical cosmetic procedure in the U.S., with over one million treatments given in 2007.
Restylane® is a safe and natural cosmetic dermal filler that restores volume and fullness to the skin to correct fine facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds and lip lines. Restylane® has a highly favorable safety profile. It is composed of hyaluronic acid, which is a substance found naturally in the human body. Restylane® is synthesized non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid. This limits any risk of animal-based disease transmissions or development of allergic reactions to animal proteins.
JUVEDERM™
JUVEDERM™ injectable gel is a smooth gel filler composed of hyaluronic acid that can instantly smooth out those wrinkles or folds that look like parentheses along the side of your nose and mouth. JUVEDERM™ has a highly favorable safety profile. It is synthesized non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid. This limits any risk of animal-based disease transmissions or development of allergic reactions to animal proteins.
RADIESSE®
RADIESSE is a safe, FDA-approved dermal filler that restores a natural, youthful look lasting longer than most other fillers. This convenient treatment fills and corrects deep facial smile lines, Nasolabial Folds and wrinkles around the nose and mouth. RADIESSE is made of unique calcium-based micro-spheres suspended in a natural gel that is injected into the skin through a simple, safe and minimally invasive procedure.
