Skin Surgery: A Practical Guide

This book is a practical guide for time efficient, cost effective, and cosmetically excellent skin surgery, covering the fundamentals that can be done in the office setting. It covers procedures in the Core Educational Guidelines for Family Practice Residents and provides criteria for recommending referral to a skin specialist. The focus is on treating common skin lesions, choosing the appropriate biopsy type for suspicious lesions, and the prevention of surgical and post surgical complications. This book is organized in a logical fashion starting with setting up the facilities, instruments, and equipment necessary to perform skin surgery in the office. Step-by-step procedures along wiht clear colour photographs accompany the chapters on shave biopsy, punchbiopsy, elliptical excision, cryosurgical technique, electrosurgery, and intralesional injections. This text provides necessary information on choosing anesthesia, diagnosing and treating common cutaneous malignancies, and caring for wounds. Finally, the authors provide chapters on when to refer and on preventing complications.

* Focuses on office-based procedures that are appropriate for primary care physicians. * Authored by dermatologic surgeons and family practitioners to provide the proper perspective on what can be performed safely and efficiently by the non-specialist. * Includes referral guidelines to provide criteria and rationales so primary care physicians know when to treat and when to refer. * Gives step-by-step instructions illustrated by full-color photographs.

Dr Usatine is a Professor of Family and Community Medicine and Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, as well as the founder and medical director of the University Health System Skin Clinic in San Antonio. He is the co-author of 10 medical/healthcare books and over 130 articles. He has won numerous teaching awards and loves teaching medical students to become compassionate doctors.

Dr. Usatine has been working with medical students to provide health care to homeless families and the medically underserved since 1984. Dr. Usatine was recognized in 2000 as the national recipient of the Humanism in Medicine Award, by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Dr. Usatine is involved with numerous national education efforts and is a contributor to the Watch and Learn video library for the Journal of Family Practice Online. Since 2000, he has been chosen yearly by his peers to be included in The Best Doctors in America.

MD, MS (Management and Policy)