Although the majority of skin lesions are benign in nature it may be necessary to either biopsy or remove benign lesions for reassurance or where the lesion causes significant distress either functionally or cosmetically.
Frequently skin lesions can be removed and closed directly with a scar that can be placed in a place that will give a good cosmetic result.
It is uncommon for skin lesions not be closed directly with a straight line scar. Other methods of wound closure include the use of skin grafts and/or local flaps.
Skin Grafts are one of the most common methods for closing a wound after injury, or removal of tissue (for example after surgery for skin cancer). A skin graft is the technique of removing skin from one area of the body and placing it on another. The blood supply to the graft develops over a number of days to weeks. Depending upon what is involved, skin grafts take the form of either full-thickness grafts or split-thickness. Full-thickness Skin Grafts are whole pieces of skin and the site from where the graft is taken is closed directly leaving a scar in this area. They are commonly taken from behind the ear, the neck, the groin and the arm.
Split-thickness skin grafts are usually taken from the thighs and are thin shavings of skin that leave behind them an area similar to a graze. This area heals by itself although can take a number of weeks.
A flap is a piece of tissue that carries with it its own blood supply. One can utilize an area with excess skin and use it to move into the area needing to be reconstructed. The area where the flap is taken from is stitched and the resultant scar can be placed in a place that will allow the resultant scar to be less visible.