Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center
Dual Board Certified Dermatologist and Mohs Micrographic Surgeon
Serving Morris, Essex, Hunterdon, and Somerset Counties
(973) 301-9500
Our Practice
At The Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center, we provide our patients the most experienced and dedicated healthcare professionals.
Dr. Kiken is considered a leader in Mohs Micrographic surgery and dermatologic surgery. Having received extensive training in advanced dermatologic and skin surgery techniques at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Kiken has successfully completed over 20,000 skin cancer removals and reconstructions. Dr. Kiken was among the first in the nation to receive a board certification in the subspecialty of Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery
Dermatologic Surgery
Thanks to research breakthroughs, clinical advances and instrumentation, the majority of dermatologic surgeries are now minimally invasive and require only local or regional anesthesia. These procedures can typically be performed in our office. This translates into superior patient safety while reducing the all-important "downtime" and recovery period
Excisional Surgery
This procedure is used to remove both benign and malignant skin growths. Excisional surgery can be performed to remove some skin cancers. Following the procedure, the specimen is examined by a dermatopathologist under a microscope to ensure that the growth has been removed completely. Excisional surgery is also used to remove benign growths, such as atypical moles and cysts. It is typically performed under local anesthesia, in our office.
What to expect
Most procedures take approximately 30 minutes to complete. After numbing the area and cleansing the site with a surgical disinfectant, Dr. Kiken will painlessly remove the growth. The area is then re-constructed using sutures (stitches). Most stitches stay in place for 1-2 weeks. Of course, every patient and procedure is different. Dr. Kiken will explain each procedure to you in detail before it is performed. Most patients can return to work and their daily activities the same day.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Skin Cancer
Dr. Kiken has over 15 years of experience and has successfully performed over 25,000 Mohs surgical procedures. He is one of the few dermatologists in the United States to be dual board certified in both dermatology and Mohs Micrographic surgery. Dr. Kiken typically performs the Mohs surgery and reconstruction the same day so as to minimize patient discomfort and downtime.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery, an advanced procedure for the precise removal of skin cancer, is performed in our office. There are a number highly effective options to treat skin cancers, including excision and suturing, curettage and electrodessication (scraping and burning), cryosurgery, radiation therapy, photodynamic therapy, and Mohs Surgery. With careful examination and a thorough exploration of your options, Dr. Kiken will customize a plan to help you successfully control or remedy your problem.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery is primarily used to treat some basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. It allows the physician to see beyond the visible disease, to precisely identify and remove the entire tumor, layer by layer, while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact and unharmed. As the most exact and precise method of tumor removal, it minimizes the chance of re-growth and lessens the potential for extensive scarring or disfigurement.
Because the physician is specially trained in surgery, pathology, and reconstruction, Mohs surgery has the highest success rate of all treatments for skin cancer - up to 99 percent. The Mohs technique is also the treatment of choice for cancers of the face and other sensitive areas as it relies on the accuracy of a microscopically-controlled surgical procedure to trace the edges of the cancer and ensure complete removal of tumors, down to the roots, during the initial surgery.
Mohs Surgery: The Most Effective Treatment for Skin Cancer
What to expect
After the tumor has been completely removed, your physician will discuss closure options with you to reconstruct the wound. Most wounds are closed with sutures (stitches). Most small wounds can be closed with a side-by-side closure (linear closure with stitches). Some larger wounds require a skin flap where skin adjacent to the wound is "borrowed," or a skin graft. Some wounds heal best by spontaneous granulation, where the wound is allowed to heal naturally. Every case is different and will be discussed with you in detail.