AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2600 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Question Dear Dr. Engler:
About two years ago, my dermatologist removed (froze off by, I think, liquid nitrogen?) some skin cancer from my cheek. It produced the (usual, I guess) white spot, about a half inch in diameter. I find it extremely unsightly and had some laser treatment (the laser they use for brown spots) at one place with little or no effect. I went to another 'Dermo' and they used an Eximer laser that was expensive and seemed to cause it to fade a little. Not sure. Regardless, it's as white as ever. I was also prescribed "Vitises." That ointment too has done no good.
Is there anything I can do to eliminate or greatly reduce this ugly thing on my face.
Thanks very much for your time.
Answer Dear Ed,
As you've probably figured out, I don't really think there's very much you can do to improve the appearance of this scar, which is basically what it is. Destructive methods, such as liquid nitrogen, electro or thermocautery, etc., are often used to remove questionable, or not so questionable, growths, but they can leave unsightly reminders of what was done.
Depending on how old you are, and what type of skin you have, it may be reasonable to consider having the SCAR cut out, just as if the original growth were still there. It may, of course, result in a scar that is similar to what would have been done if it had been excised in the first place (if you can follow that!). That scar, ironically, may be better than the white patch you have right now.
At any rate, it's probably worth checking it out a bit. If you go to the About This Website page of my website, www.bodysculpture.com, you can find links to several national plastic surgery sites that can help you find a surgeon near you. Then, go visit a few of them, and see if what they say makes sense.
