Complications in Cutaneous Surgery

The demand for outpatient cutaneous surgery procedures has increased at a rapid rate over the last several decades. Cosmetic, excisional, and reconstructive pro- dures are being performed by primary care physicians and a variety of specialists in different disciplines, such as dermatology, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, and otolaryngology. As the number of cutaneous surgery procedures rises, so will the rate of complications, which are inevitable and occur even with the most skilled, careful, and meticulous surgeons. In the practice of medicine, we often learn more from complications than t- umphs. The authors of the chapters in this book were recruited based on their experience and respective areas of expertise. To my knowledge, no book exists that summarizes the medical literature regarding complications in cutaneous surgery. The goal of this book is to provide a comprehensive text that will enable the pr- ticing physician to formulate a preoperative strategy to prevent complications before they occur and to properly diagnose and manage complications when they arise in order to provide a better service to the patient. This book is divided into three sections: acute surgical complications, chronic surgical complications, and complications of cosmetic procedures. Each chapter discusses a different complication and outlines proper preventative, diagnostic, and management strategies based on the medical literature and the experience of the author. Acute complications, some of which may be associated with serious morb- ity and mortality, are those experienced within the ? rst few weeks of surgery.