Melanoma Removal
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Early detection is essential to successful melanoma treatment. If not detected early, melanoma can spread rapidly and become difficult to treat. Melanoma is most commonly found on skin exposed to ultraviolet light, but it can form anywhere on the body, including the scalp, genitals, palms, soles of the feet, and under a nail. Areas not exposed to sunlight are more common sites for melanoma in people with darker skin tones. The first indication of melanoma is often a change in an existing mole or new, pigmented skin growth.
Causes: Though anyone can develop melanoma, the risk increases with physical factors such as excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or tanning beds or living in a sunny location or at high elevation. Biological factors include having more than 50 moles on the body, large moles, or moles with irregular borders; a history of even just one severe sunburn; fair or freckled skin, skin that does not tan, blond or red hair, or light-colored eyes; a blood relative who has had melanoma; a history of cancer; or a weakened immune system.
Symptoms: See a dermatologist as soon as possible if you notice a mole growing asymmetrically, a change in mole’s color, size, or borders; a spot on the skin that is becoming elevated, changing, darkening, bleeding, itching, or painful; a streak under a fingernail or toenail; or a slowly growing scar-like patch of skin.
Treatment: A dermatologist will take a skin biopsy and examine it under a microscope or send it to a laboratory for more analysis. Biopsies may involve removing an entire mole or suspicious area along with a bit of normal-looking skin, removing just part of a mole or suspicious area, or removing only the most irregular part of a large mole or growth. A sentinel lymph node biopsy, x-rays, blood work, and a CT scan may also be done to determine if a melanoma has spread. Treatment depends on the depth of the melanoma and whether the melanoma has spread to near lymph nodes or beyond.
Melanoma in early stages may be completely eliminated with the skin taken for a biopsy. Sometimes a dermatologist will perform an in-office excision to remove all cancer cells and a margin of normal-looking skin around them. The skin is numbed before the procedure. Mohs surgery may also be done to remove early-stage melanoma.
Melanomas that have grown deeper into the skin or have spread may be treated with chemotherapy (medicine that kills cancerous and some normal cells), immunotherapy (to assist the patient’s immune system in destroying the cancer), a lymphadenectomy (removal of affected lymph nodes), radiation therapy (to kill cancerous and some normal cells), and targeted therapy (drugs that reduce the cancer temporarily).
Best in Class Skin Care
Your skin is too important to leave to chance. Zel has participated in 100 clinical studies and seen more than 30,000 patients. And, unlike most skin care clinics, we conduct our own research internally to ensure the treatments we provide have been scientifically proven to improve the health of your skin.
Contact Zel Skin today to schedule your consultation.
*Results may vary per patient. Services vary by location.
Brian brings a unique combination of medical science, clinical expertise, integrity and compassion to his patients. He provides the latest technology available in the field of dermatology but with a personalized touch for each patient. He is highly respected by his colleagues throughout the country for his expertise and sincerity.
Everyone I have met at Zel is amazing!
It is rare to find a dermatologist who is as knowledgeable about the many facets of clinical and cosmetic dermatology as Dr. Zelickson. Because of his knowledge and honesty, doctors worldwide know they can depend on his assessment of new therapies, procedures and medical devices. This, in turn, has made him a much sought–after speaker for the plethora of professional medical society meetings and engagements that we have throughout the year. I am honored to know Dr. Zelickson and consider him a friend to the profession.
Dr. Brian Zelickson was one of our initial Thermage investigators and helped us understand the mechanisms of non–invasive skin tightening. He is a renowned expert on how collagen can affect skin tightening and wrinkle reduction.
Dr. Brian Zelickson is one of this country’s leading laser experts. Not only is he unparalleled as a laser surgeon, it is not an exaggeration to state that his superb research helps determine the future of dermatologic laser surgery.
Dr. Zelickson is a highly regarded skin/light expert in our industry. When Candela looks for both medical and scientific advice for new laser applications, we often turn to him for his counsel. The input he provides us always starts with patient safety and satisfaction. We feel fortunate to be able to tap into Brian as an independent resource. The patients who are treated with Candela devices are often the beneficiaries of Brian’s input to us.
Most patients prefer seeing a doctor who is known for a particular specialty or procedure, but all patients want to see the doctor who invented the procedure or therapy. Dr. Brian Zelickson is one of the most respected physicians in the field of cosmetic dermatology and aesthetic medicine. He has lectured around the world and is one of the most sought–after speakers for all major meetings in dermatology.
I would rate Dr. Zelickson's clinic 10 stars!
We have felt honored to have Dr. Brian Zelickson, a world–renowned dermatologist who is distinguished as a high–quality care physician, serving as the investigator evaluating Syneron non–invasive skin tightening technology
I trained with Dr. Zelickson at Mayo Clinic, and I found him to be a very bright and creative dermatologist and scientist. Later, he was our best advisor when we set up our clinic in the Basque Country in Spain. I call him the ‘paparazzi of dermatology.’ His contribution to our speciality is probably among the best of this century.
Tuve la suerte de conocer al Dr. Brian Zelickson en Minneapolis hace muchos anos y desde entonces acudo regularmente a compartir sus conocimientos. Es un científico honrado, brillante, creativo e innovador. Nunca deja de sorprenderte agradablemente.
Dr. Zelickson is a very well–respected dermatologist, not only in the U.S., but also in Europe. He is famous for being the author of relevant dermatological studies published in many prestigious medical journals and for the improvements he’s made on minimally invasive cosmetic procedures that are being used by dermatologists all over the world.
Our view from Europe of Dr. Brian Zelickson is that he is one of the leading four or five U.S. laser dermatologists. His research contributions, his superb lectures and his expert knowledge of laser skin surgery make him a valued friend, colleague and guest.
Dr. Brian Zelickson is one of the world’s leaders in cutaneous laser surgery. He has performed groundbreaking research over the past decade, advancing the field as well as expertly providing the most up–to–date laser treatments for his patients.
Brian Zelickson is a world–renowned laser expert who helps develop the lasers and treatment parameters used by the rest of the world. He is where others turn to learn the latest techniques in laser surgery. If you want the best treatment available, delivering the best results in the safest environment available, there is no need to look anywhere else.
I have met many laser experts in my 20 years of teaching, lecturing and running a busy practice. There is no one who I respect more than Brian. If I have a clinical question or research idea, Brian is one of the few individuals I call, as I know I can count on his intellect, integrity and common sense.
Dr. Zelickson is one of America’s most knowledgeable laser experts. He has done pioneering work with many of the laser and light–based technologies developed in the world over the last 10 years. He is a giant in the field.
Dr. Zelickson is one of the world’s leaders in the field of lasers for the treatment of the skin. His many years experience in treating thousands of patients with lasers and other medical devices makes him one of the most sought–after doctors in this field. Innovation and caring are his trademarks.