About Surgical Treatment for Melanoma:
With melanoma, the surgical goal is simple to state and critical to execute: remove all of it, with margins proven clear. At Charleston Dermatology, our team treats melanoma based on its depth and location.
Most melanomas are removed with wide excision using margins matched to tumor thickness. For lentigo maligna and other melanomas on the face, scalp, and other tissue-critical sites, Mohs surgery using specialized immunostains allows the surgeon to see melanoma cells at the margin during the procedure.
Deeper melanomas may also call for sentinel lymph node biopsy, and we coordinate with surgical and medical oncology whenever your stage requires it. After treatment, you’ll have a lifelong skin surveillance partner in our team. Schedule a visit—with melanoma, timing is everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is melanoma surgery different from other skin cancer surgery?
Melanoma removal uses wider margins than basal or squamous cell carcinoma because melanoma cells can extend farther microscopically, and margin size is set by the tumor’s measured depth. For invasive melanoma beyond a certain thickness, the surgical plan may also include sentinel lymph node biopsy to check whether cells have reached the nearest lymph node.
When is Mohs surgery used for melanoma?
Mostly for melanoma in situ of the lentigo maligna type — early melanoma on chronically sun-damaged skin of the face and scalp, where the abnormal cells often extend subtly and invisibly outward. Mohs with immunostaining (which highlights melanoma cells) confirms clear margins while preserving facial tissue. Your surgeon will recommend Mohs or wide excision based on your specific tumor.
What happens after melanoma surgery?
Early melanoma removed with clear margins usually needs no further treatment — just a structured follow-up schedule of skin exams, since a history of melanoma raises the risk of another. Deeper melanomas may involve additional staging or adjuvant therapy coordinated with oncology. Either way, we’ll map out your surveillance plan clearly so nothing is left to chance.