To ensure the highest level of safety and diagnostic accuracy, our board-certified physicians require an in-person consultation for the initial visit. This allows us to thoroughly examine your condition and create a personalized treatment plan for you. However, subsequent appointments may be offered virtually at the discretion of your physician. We prioritize your safety and will always examine you in person prior to any procedure to ensure the best possible outcome.

With a referral from your family doctor, the initial consultation is usually covered by OHIP. However, OHIP coverage for procedures is based on the diagnosis of the lesion of concern, and not solely at the discretion of our doctors. Procedures for malignant or suspicious skin growths such as skin cancers and pre-cancerous lesions are typically covered by OHIP. Whereas most benign growths, lumps, or bumps such as cysts, lipomas, xanthelasmas, angiomas, wisdom spots like seborrheic keratoses, and non-suspicious moles are not covered.

After in-person examination, our physician will determine if a biopsy or surgery is necessary, and will discuss any reasonable alternative treatment options with you. If a biopsy is necessary, it can typically be performed during the same visit. It's important to note that while some skin cancers are life-threatening, they can often be cured with surgery alone, especially when they're caught in their early stages. As such, it's crucial not to delay skin cancer surgeries. In rare cases, certain high-risk skin cancers may require referral to an academic hospital for multidisciplinary care.

At our facility, all surgeries are performed under local anesthesia, which means that you do not need to fast before surgery. Additionally, you may be able to drive after the procedure, as long as it does not affect your vision or hand function. You should continue to take your routine medications prior to surgery. The duration of your surgery may vary from 15 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the complexity of the case. If you experience mild to moderate pain after the anesthesia wears off in a few hours, you may take over-the-counter pain medications, assuming that you have no allergies. Regarding your return to work and exercise routine, we will assess this on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of your job and exercise routine.

At your appointment, you will receive detailed instructions on how to care for your wound, including information about dressing changes and the removal of any stitches if necessary. While some scarring is inevitable after surgery, we make every effort to minimize scarring and optimize its appearance. It's important to note that personal factors, such as genetics, skin type, and age, can significantly affect the healing of scars. We encourage you to be patient and understand that it may take up to 12 months before you see the final result of your scar.