Treatment of Facial Tumors & Cysts
Scarsdale and Mt. Kisco, NY
Treatment of Facial Tumors and Cysts provided by Dr. Gary Orentlicher and Dr. Andrew Horowitz in Scarsdale & Mt. Kisco, NY at New York Oral, Maxillofacial, and Implant Surgery
 Growing a massive, lumpy tissue on your face can be a terrifying experience. To some, the first thought may be that it is a serious and dangerous disease or disorder. To others, it could be something far more lethal. While not all tumors and cysts automatically mean cancer, it is always best to have any unusual growth on your face checked. At New York Oral, Maxillofacial, and Implant Surgery, we are experts when it comes to the face and mouth. With our expertise, we can help you through from diagnosis to treatment, and eventual post-treatment.
The Difference Between Tumors vs Cysts
At first glance, a cyst may appear similar to a tumor when seen growing from the skin. They both appear like a lump, as if something has been growing underneath. However, there are key differences between the two.
For example, cysts rarely cause any pain. They are essentially pockets of air or fluid, which have been trapped under a layer of membranous tissue. When you touch a cyst, it could feel like a tough balloon that moves around and feels soft to the touch. Cysts also rarely cause any health problem, unless they have been too large that they begin to affect your every movement.
Meanwhile, tumors are hard and usually painful. Tumors form when a certain cell in your body produces an abnormal cell that reproduces on its own. Most maxillofacial tumors barely cause any symptoms besides the noticeable lump and hardness in their area. Unlike many endocrine tumors, these do not have any other function besides growth and reproduction.
Tumors, however, could eventually cause cancer. Malignant tumors are those that spread to other areas of the body and form colony-like growths. Conversely, benign tumors do not cause cancer. These are usually found on the layers of skin, where they are isolated from the rest of the body.
Treatments for Facial Cysts and Tumors
In most cases, we treat tumors and cysts in somewhat similar ways. While you are under anesthesia, we would use a special tool called a “curette” to scrape these unwanted tissues from your skin. We may also perform an electrodesiccation around the area to burn away the tumors and cysts. For cysts and tumors located underneath the skin, we would cut your skin tissues open and surgically scrape the lumps through it using a curette.
Another method that we may employ is cryosurgery. Doing this involves certain kinds of cold substances such as liquid nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, or dimethyl ether. By exposing the tumors and cysts to extremely cold temperatures, their cells would die, and their structures would begin to shrink.
Cryosurgery is among the best methods we have in our arsenal. This helps us make cleaner scrapes in larger tumors and cysts while allowing for a faster heal after the operation. With a faster healing process, the sooner you could get to go out and smile with your beautiful face.
If you are looking to have treatment for mysterious lumps and masses on your face, we can help you. Please visit us here at New York Oral, Maxillofacial, and Implant Surgery so we could give you an examination. You can call us at (914) 768-8220 to schedule an appointment with us today. |
