Prof. Hartstein has a vast experience in treating skin cancers around the eyes and on the face, and directs an international cadaver dissection course specifically dedicated to facial reconstruction following the removal of skin cancers.
Cancer of the eyelids and surrounding facial region is not uncommon. There are three components to taking care of eyelid skin cancer:
- Establish the diagnosis, if the growth is indeed a skin cancer and what type.
- Completely excsie the cancer with clear margins on all sides, while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. Prof. Hartstein excises the skin cancer in the operating room, creating a map for the pathologist who works alongside Prof. Hartstein. The pathologist checks to make sure that all margins around the site of the tumor are free of any residual tumor.
- Reconstruct the defect. This step is crucial in order to reconstruct an eyelid or surrounding tissue that is both functional and cosmetically pleasing.