Transplant Dermatology Specialist

What is transplant dermatology?

When you undergo an organ transplant, your risk for developing skin cancers, like squamous cell carcinomas, increases significantly. Cancers that develop in the skin following a transplant can be more numerous and more aggressive.

Skin cancers after a transplant typically develop because many transplant medications cause changes in the skin. In addition to increasing your risk for skin cancer, transplant surgeries can also cause a variety of other skin symptoms, such as:

• Acne
• Ulcers
• Infections
• Benign skin lesions

To prevent your risks for transplant-related skin cancers, Dr. Hendi offers transplant dermatology services that focus on the early detection of skin cancers after a transplant. He can determine if any of the symptoms you develop on your skin relate to cancer.

What transplant dermatology services are available?

As a skin cancer specialist, Dr. Hendi takes a proactive, preventive approach with his transplant dermatology services. He coordinates your care with your other health providers and focuses on preventing skin cancer through routine skin evaluations and preventive therapies.

During those evaluations, Dr. Hendi can identify the earliest warning signs of skin cancer so that treatment can begin immediately. Early intervention is key to successfully treating skin cancer and preventing it from spreading into the skin and other areas of your body.

How is transplant-related skin cancer treated?

If you develop skin cancer as a result of an organ transplant, Dr. Hendi offers outpatient Mohs micrographic surgery. This procedure involves the removal of your affected skin layer by layer.

With each layer of skin he removes, Dr. Hendi analyzes it under a microscopic to check for cancer cells. The procedure continues until Dr. Hendi can no longer see cancer cells.

What can I expect after Mohs micrographic surgery?

Using the latest surgical technologies at his outpatient surgery center, Dr. Hendi customizes your surgical plan to remove as little skin tissue as possible and still treat cancer effectively.

While scarring is a side effect of treatment, Dr. Hendi works carefully to minimize scar risks and prevent skin complications, like infections. He may decide to allow the surgical wound to heal naturally or may close the wound with stitches.

For larger surgical wounds, Dr. Hendi can perform a skin graft surgery, removing excess skin from another area of your body to place in the surgical site.

Many people tolerate Mohs micrographic surgery well and experience minimal discomfort. Itching and skin tightness are common after this type of surgery but gradually resolve without treatment. If you have any pain, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers. Because you’re having outpatient surgery, you can expect to go home and rest following your procedure.

If you are having a transplant surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Hendi in advance by calling his office today.