Abdominoplasty
Breast augmentation
Breast reduction & uplift
Laser resurfacing
Fat Grafting
Liposuction
Melanoma
Sun protection
Basal cell cancer
Squamous cell skin cancers
Skin grafts
Facial repairs
Tissue expansion
Facial fractures
Trauma & burns
   
 
 
   
 
 
   
 

Australalians are troubled with two broad types of skin cancer. In excess of 95% of these are tumours of the keratinocytes (unpigmented cells of the skin fabric), namely basal and squamous cell cancers. Basal cell carcinomas (BCC's) are by definition considered not to have the capacity to detach and spread to other sites. Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC's) can however have this potential. Nonetheless SCC's of the skin which are induced as the result of longstanding sun exposure and have not been ignored for extended periods, are relatively unlikely to metastasise(spread to distant sites).

Skin cancer: The cells of origin

The remaining significant of skin cancer is melanoma. These are cancers of the pigment cells of the skin. Although these number less than 5% of skin cancers in Australia, they are responsible for a significant number of deaths.

Fortunately there is a high level of awareness about melanoma in Australia. This results in the early diagnosis of many of these tumours and a high overall survival rate. Nonetheles, some melanomas are not identified at a sufficiently early stage and it is these patients who are at particular risk from this tumour.
 
 
 
 
Jonathan Stretch Plastic Surgeon D.Phil (Oxon) F.R.A.C.S.