Beverly MA, November 11, 2015 — Massachusetts Dermatology Associates (http://www.madermatology.com/) provides cutting edge surgical treatment with its state-of-the-art surgical facility and Mohs surgery unit in Beverly, MA which is directed by Dr. Deborah Cummins. The question is sometimes raised by patients who are diagnosed with skin cancers at Massachusetts Dermatology Associates whether they will get a better outcome if they visit a plastic surgeon for treatment of these cancers.

“Many patients who are diagnosed with skin cancer wonder if they should have their cancer treated by a dermatologic surgeon or plastic surgeon” says Dr. Deborah Cummins, Surgical Director of Massachusetts Dermatology Associates. “After all, patients are no stranger to Nip/Tuck and are well aware of the magnificent cosmetic enhancements that are performed by plastic surgeons.” Dr. Cummins continues, “There is a fear by some patients that they will be disfigured by their skin cancer surgery and a misconception that having work done by a plastic surgeon guarantees that there will be no scar.” Where do dermatologists fit in? Dr. Cummins explains, “Both dermatologic surgeons and plastic surgeons are trained to surgically treat skin cancers and perform repairs to give the best possible cosmetic outcomes. However, there are a few distinct differences in their training. Mohs surgeons are surgical dermatologists who specialize in the Mohs surgery technique which is uniquely designed to treat skin cancers on the face by sparing skin and maximizing cure rates. Plastic surgeons may be preferred for surgical reconstruction in very advanced cases of skin cancer where the tumor extends into deeper tissues such as bone and muscle.”

Plastic surgeons and dermatologic surgeons are two excellent options for treatment of skin cancer. For non-melanoma skin cancers in cosmetically and functionally sensitive areas such as the head, neck, hands, and feet Mohs surgery with a dermatologic surgeon will likely afford the highest cure rate and an excellent cosmetic outcome. For skin cancers on other parts of the body that do not qualify for Mohs surgery, patients are likely to get similar outcomes whether they visit a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Additionally, tumors that are very deep and involve bone or muscle may benefit from the expertise of a plastic surgeon. In these cases a Mohs surgeon may perform the removal and the plastic surgeon would repair the defect.

Massachusetts Dermatology Associates is fortunate to have Dr. Deborah Cummins, a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon and former Director of Dermatologic Surgery at Boston Medical Center, as Surgical Director. Dr. Cummins has performed thousands of Mohs surgeries and surgical excisions for patients in Boston and for patients on the North Shore of Massachusetts (in Beverly, Salem, Peabody, and beyond). To learn more about Mohs surgery at Massachusetts Dermatology Associates visit www.madermatology.com/skin-cancer-treatment/mohs-surgery/

About Massachusetts Dermatology Associates
Massachusetts Dermatology Associates is a dermatology group practice in located in the city of Beverly on the North Shore of Massachusetts, founded in 2014. Providers at the practice include Dr. Jordan Cummins, Dr. Deborah Cummins, and Dr. Sabina Bis who are all Harvard-trained dermatologists. All three providers have been on the faculty of top-tier dermatology academic centers. Drs. Sabina Bis and Jordan Cummins are general dermatologists who treat a wide range of conditions from acne to skin cancer. Dr. Deborah Cummins is a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon who also has expertise in general dermatology. In addition to basic medical dermatology and surgical dermatology services, Massachusetts Dermatology Associates has a state-of-the-art Mohs surgical unit, narrowband UVB treatment devices (for treating conditions such as psoriasis, eczema—including special NBUVB devices for hands, feet, and scalp), patch testing (with the largest panel of allergens on the North Shore), and BLU-U photodynamic therapy (for treatment of actinic keratosis). The practice also provides a wide range of cosmetic services including Botox, fillers, fractional resurfacing laser treatment (with Palomar Lux 1540), and IPL treatment (with Palomar ICON IPL). For more information, visit http://www.madermatology.com/