“It has been a busy year. Over the last three decades, the number of cases of skin cancer has outnumbered new cases of all other cancers combined. Throughout 2014, it has been our mission to fight these growing numbers as well as educate the public on safe sun habits and advocate for new advancements in the fight against skin cancer on a national level. In this, our first full year, we opened a second clinic in Mandeville, Louisiana and reached an incredible milestone: Our 1,000th surgery. If the trends continue, we will no doubt see even more incidences in 2015. We will continue to encourage everyone to schedule an annual appointment with their dermatologist, practice safe sun habits and spread that knowledge. More details are outlined in the release below. “
PRESS RELEASE: (New Orleans) – Skin surgeon and dermatologist Dr. Keith LeBlanc Jr., founder of The Skin Surgery Centre, has performed his 1,000th skin cancer procedure in the New Orleans area during 2014 using Mohs micrographic surgery, an advanced treatment modality that removes skin cancer with a success rate of up to 99%.
Dr. LeBlanc’s 1,000th Mohs procedure comes as skin cancer rates across the nation continue to climb. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more people have had skin cancer over the last three decades than all other cancers combined and nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer in the United States each year as the most commonly diagnosed cancer. This underscores thee importance of annual skin exams by a board-certified general dermatologist.
“There has been a significant increase this year in the number of patients that dermatologists have sent to The Skin Surgery Centre seeking potential skin cancer treatment,” said Dr. LeBlanc. “It falls in line with what we’re seeing nationally as more and more people are being diagnosed with skin cancer.”
Although skin cancer is easily treatable if diagnosed early, the disease potentially can cause disfigurement or even death. Mohs micrographic surgery has come to be accepted as the single most effective technique for battling the most common types of skin cancer, boosting survival rates and minimizing damage for qualified patients. With the Mohs technique, physicians can precisely identify and remove an entire tumor while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact and unharmed, especially in cosmetically sensitive areas such as the face.
Dr. LeBlanc, a graduate of Jesuit High School and the University of Virginia, opened Metairie based The Skin Surgery Centre in 2013 as a patient-centered, state-of-the-art dermatologic surgery facility for the treatment of skin cancers and to maximize the health and appearance of skin. The Skin Surgery Centre specializes in Mohs micrographic surgery and reconstruction as well as the latest minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.
The three most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma. Mohs surgery is the most effective surgical treatment modality for treating these cancers types and certain early forms of melanoma. Individuals most susceptible to skin cancer include those with red or blonde hair, those with light (blue or green) eyes, those who possess naturally lighter skin, and those with a family history of melanoma or other skin cancers. Skin cancer rates are typically highest with men and young people. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer over the course of a lifetime.
Dr. LeBlanc emphasizes the importance of immediately seeing a dermatologist if a suspicious sore, pimple, scar, or mark appears on the skin, especially if the condition does not heal
About The Skin Surgery Centre
Based in Metairie, The Skin Surgery Centre is a state-of-the-art facility for surgical and cosmetic treatments to maximize the health and appearance of skin. The Centre specializes in Mohs micrographic surgery and reconstruction as well as the latest minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, including botulinum toxins, soft-tissue fillers, chemical peels, and anti-aging skin care regimens.