A Skin Cancer Center Covering All Phases of Care

The Skin Cancer & Lesion Clinic is designed for skin checks for lesions and growths. Dr. Joseph Greco serves in all phases of care related to skin cancer surveillance and skin checks for non-healing lesions and growths. This includes initial evaluation through detailed skin exams, non-invasive therapies such as liquid nitrogen, minimally invasive procedures such as skin biopsy, and surgical treatment when indicated via Mohs or other dermatologic surgery procedures.

woman in a blue bikini at the beach
Accent media

The Importance of Skin Checks

After working with Greco Dermatology, our patients feel more informed and educated about their skincare. Most feel a sense of relief after undergoing skin exams once their issues are addressed or the exam confirms that there’s no clinically suspicious lesion. Not only are these exams important for medical reasons; they also provide a sense of calm and peace of mind, which is invaluable. Routine skin exams at the Skin Cancer & Lesion Clinic are generally performed once or twice each year, but may occur more frequently depending on risk factors and diagnosis of skin cancer.

Doctor media
Accent media

What to Watch For

The following could be an indication that a growth may be cancerous. If you’re experiencing any of the concerns listed below or simply want to make an appointment for a skin exam to evaluate for any lesions or growths, please call to schedule an appointment or consultation.

  • A new growth on an adult that does not disappear within 4-6 weeks
  • A skin lesion that grows larger and turns pearly, translucent, brown, black, or multi-colored
  • Any worrisome skin lesion
  • A skin spot or growth that scales, scabs, oozes, erodes, or bleeds for several weeks
  • A growth with changes in sensation such as itching, burning, pain, or tenderness
  • An open sore or wound that doesn’t heal for more than four weeks, or heals and then reopens or recurs 
  • A mole, birthmark, or beauty mark that grows larger, changes color, texture, or shape

“I grew up following my grandfather around his family practice office and tagged along on house calls with him. I saw firsthand from an early age his impact on patients and the community. I now am fortunate to have the opportunity to do the same alongside my father who has been practicing in Sarasota for over 30 years. I take great pride and value in the opportunity to treat patients and will never take a single visit for granted.”

— Dr. Joseph Greco, Top Skin Cancer Surgeon

What to Expect During Your Consultation and Skin Exam

Before your skin evaluation, you’ll discuss your concerns with Dr. Greco. The purpose of this is to help you get to know each other, express your concerns, ask any questions, and have a physical exam of your lesion.

You will establish the goals for your visit immediately, whether it’s for a general skin check or for specific concerns about symptomatic, existing, or new lesions. You will discuss, note, and describe all lesions of interest. Dr. Greco will perform a comprehensive exam based on these discussions and your goals.

A clear diagnostic and treatment plan will be created and talked about. Options may include topical treatments, non-invasive localized application of liquid nitrogen, or a skin biopsy (which involves taking a small sample of a suspicious lesion for examination under the microscope to provide a more definitive diagnosis).

All of your questions will be answered to the best of our ability. Our goal is for your consultation to establish a friendly and professional introduction to the practice, or to offer a warm welcome back if you’re an existing patient.

Dr. Greco finds the one-on-one interaction with the patient to be the most satisfying part of the clinic, as his patients often become part of the extended family of the practice.

Banner media

Why Joseph F. Greco, M.D. is the Best Skin Cancer Surgeon for You

  • 15-year history as a Mohs surgeon at UCLA, one of the premier hospital systems in the nation; also served as Director of UCLA Santa Monica Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery for 12 years
  • Double board-certified by The American Board of Dermatology in Dermatology and Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery
  • Fellowship trained in Mohs micrographic surgery, reconstructive surgery, cutaneous oncology, and laser surgery at The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA 
  • Served as Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor, Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine at The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA 
  • A member of The American College of Mohs Surgery: the premier organization of fellowship-trained skin cancer and reconstructive surgeons specializing in Mohs micrographic surgery 
  • One of the first dermatologic surgeons to pass The American Board of Dermatology subspecialty exam to be certified in Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery 2021 
  • One of a select number of double board-certified and fellowship-trained Mohs micrographic surgeons in the country
  • Appeared as a faculty presenter at numerous national conferences and workshops on surgical anatomy, advanced surgical reconstructive techniques, cutaneous oncology, and new laser and light source technologies
  • Author of an extensive list of book chapters, publications, and national lectures in the field of surgical anatomy, Mohs micrographic surgery, reconstructive surgery, cutaneous oncology, laser surgery, and the surgical anatomy of the head and neck
  • A 15-year history of skin cancer focus, which has allowed him to perform over 20,000 Mohs and surgical excision procedures
  • Participated in the training 14 Mohs micrographic surgery fellows
  • Recognized annually by peers as a SuperDoctor® in Southern California (2016-2022) as well as a TopDoctor® in Los Angeles in 2018

The Importance of Being Fellowship-Trained

When you choose to work with Greco Dermatology, you can feel confident and assured you’re in the excellent hands of a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon. In addition to being fellowship-trained himself, Joseph F. Greco, M.D. also trained other fellows at UCLA in Mohs surgery. Fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons must undergo:

  • A competitive application, review, and selection process to be chosen for training
  • Extensive hands-on direction and education from highly qualified trainers who are themselves skilled practitioners of the Mohs procedure
  • 1-2 years of additional training after residency
  • Exposure to rare tumor pathology, difficult tumor locations, and complex wound reconstruction
  • A minimum of 650 cases during training
Office media

Conditions We Treat

Actinic Keratoses

Caused by severe sun damage, actinic keratoses are often characterized by small, dry, scaly, or crusty patches of skin. AKs are a collection of atypical cells called keratinocytes that develop in the top portion of your skin. Because AKs can become cancerous, they should be treated. We utilize blue light therapy, topical chemotherapy and immune response modifiers, or liquid nitrogen to treat them.

Learn More

Angioma & Telangiectasia

Angiomas are benign growths that can be raised or smooth anywhere on the body. They are made of small blood vessels. Telangiectasias (spider veins) are dilated or broken blood vessels that are found close to the surface of the skin. Blood vessel-based conditions are often treated with focal electrosurgery, or laser treatments.

Learn More

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is incredibly common, and in fact is the most common kind of cancer in existence. It’s slow-moving and rarely spreads — and when detected early, it’s very treatable. Options for treatment include curettage and electrodesiccation, Mohs surgery, excisional surgery, photodynamic therapy, and radiation therapy (which we refer out to).

Learn More

Cysts

Cysts are often harmless, but they may be painful or aesthetically displeasing. There are also cases where they can be dangerous. Dr. Greco will expertly evaluate your cyst and determine if it needs to be drained or surgically removed. Regardless of the method, Dr. Greco may decide to collect the material and test it for cancerous cells.

Learn More

Lipomas

A lipoma is a benign tumor made of fat tissue that develops just beneath the skin. They are often rubbery rather than hard, and not dangerous. However, if a patient wants to remove a lipoma for cosmetic or comfort reasons, Dr. Greco can take it out with excisional surgery that is an outpatient procedure. These lesions can be caused by genetics or injury.

Learn More

Male & Female Pattern Hair Loss

Hair loss is one of the most cosmetically upsetting conditions, and it affects countless men and women. With hair restoration deep within our veins at Greco Dermatology, we are confident that we can help you with your hair loss. We offer many options for restoration, including hair transplant (Bio-FUE and Bio-FUT), photodynamic therapy, cytokine-rich plasma therapy (BioScalp), scalp micropigmentation, and topical/oral therapies.

Learn More

Melanoma

Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that can be fatal if left untreated. Although it can form anywhere on the skin, it’s most often located on the legs in females and the trunk in males. It’s also commonly found on the neck and face. Cancer begins when abnormal cells begin acting erratically and spreading to other parts of the body. Surgical excision is a common treatment.

Learn More

Moles

Moles are skin lesions that are made up of cells that produce pigment. This makes them darker than their surrounding skin, and they can present as brown, black, blue, pink, or flesh-colored. They may also be raised up from the skin. Moles are usually benign, but it’s very important to have them checked yearly. If needed, moles can be removed via surgical shave or excision.

Learn More

Scars

If you have a scar or scars on your face or body, sometimes it can feel like that’s all you see when you look in the mirror or see photos of yourself. We understand the disheartening effect scarring can have on your confidence, which is why we offer treatments for scars. We offer micropigmentation for scar camouflage, as well as our bio-enhanced skin therapy for scar treatment to trigger new collagen, making scars less visible.

Learn More

Seborrheic Keratoses

This type of lesion is an overgrowth of skin cells that technically should fall off, but instead they become “sticky” and end up piling up on themselves. They are often caused by genetics and sun exposure. While they’re not dangerous, many people dislike their appearance and want them removed. Liquid nitrogen, electrosurgery, and shave removal are the most common treatments for removing them.

Learn More

Background media

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer, and it has a slightly higher chance of spreading internally than basal cell carcinoma. It’s typically caused by sun exposure mixed with your individual genetics. To treat it, we may perform Mohs micrographic surgery, surgical excision, electrodesiccation and curettage, topical chemotherapy and immune response modifiers, or radiation therapy (which we refer out). 

Learn More

Stretch Marks

Stretch marks can come from growth spurts, pregnancy, sudden weight gain and loss, and rapid muscle growth. Many individuals who have them are unhappy with the appearance they create on the skin, which is why we offer stretch mark camouflage with micropigmentation and bio-enhanced skin therapy, a treatment that utilizes cytokine-rich plasma in a natural protein matrix to help the skin build from within and look tighter, lighter, and smoother.

Learn More

Sunspots

Sunspots are characterized by flat brown lesions caused by sun exposure. Although they’re not dangerous, like many benign spots, those who have them would prefer for them to be removed. At Greco Dermatology, sunspots can be treated using cryotherapy, microneedling, skin resurfacing, and photodynamic therapy (blue light therapy).

Learn More

Cosmetic Concerns 

Many of our patients have aesthetic issues that bother them such as wrinkles, skin laxity, fine lines, and skin aging in general. This is where our innovative bio-enhanced skin therapy (BEST) procedures can make a significant improvement. Using the power of cytokine-rich plasma in a natural protein matrix, we offer anti-aging treatments to firm and smooth the skin of the face, neck, chest, and hands by inducing brand-new collagen growth and cell renewal.

Learn More

What to Know About Skin Exams

During your exam with Dr. Greco, he may use a Dermatoscope, which is a handheld, visible light-based, non-invasive device. The Dermatoscope allows for real-time evaluation of the microstructures of the first two layers of skin, which helps assess aspects of the lesion or growth that are not visible to the naked eye. The anticipation for the potential to undergo a non-invasive or minimally invasive procedure such as cryotherapy or a skin biopsy tends to be viewed as far worse than the actual procedure itself once it’s completed. If a local anesthetic is indicated for a procedure, we take a number of steps to minimize the discomfort of injection by utilizing distraction techniques, buffering solutions, vibration devices, and cold therapy if requested. Overall, our patients typically enjoy their visit and have a pleasant experience.

Banner media

Downtime After a Skin Exam

In general, there’s either very minimal or no downtime involved with a routine skin exam, and appointments can easily fit into a busy workday. However, it’s good to be aware that certain non-invasive procedures such as liquid nitrogen, cryotherapy, or minimally invasive skin biopsies may be indicated and performed during the visit. More in-depth procedures such as Mohs surgery and excision surgeries may be scheduled for a different day so we have plenty of time to perform the procedure.

(You can discover more about Mohs surgery here.)

You will leave the office after a routine skin exam with no observable change in appearance. At times, if a non-invasive or minimally invasive procedure is performed, you may have localized redness, minor swelling, slight itching, or burning. Small bandages or Band-Aids® will accompany skin biopsies.

In addition, the local anesthetic used for the procedure tends to last for a period of time after the appointment. Risks of focal bleeding, infection, or swelling are rare but potential complications to be aware of. We take all efforts to minimize and mitigate these risks. (Many patients have been known to leave in a very good mood, so be careful not to avoid smiling or laughing as much as possible!)

Follow-Up Visits 

Follow-up visits will vary depending on the goals of your specific treatment plan, response to treatment, or if biopsy results warrant further treatment. 

We realize that suspicious lesions may arise quickly, or that existing lesions undergo rapid symptomatic change and should not wait for the next routine exam. This is why we have dedicated urgent lesion visits specifically to address these instances. We want to increase access to a quick and focused evaluation. 

Background media
Doctor media

Dr. Joseph Greco: A Top Skin Cancer Surgeon in Sarasota

Joseph F. Greco, M.D. is a Mohs surgeon and skin cancer specialist and a third-generation medical provider who has been in the realm of skin cancer for 15 years. Known for Mohs work at UCLA, Dr. Greco gained a unique and extensive work experience in the demanding environment of Los Angeles. Here he performed over 20,000 Mohs and excisional surgery procedures and was instrumental in the supervision and training of 14 Mohs micrographic surgery and cutaneous oncology fellows at UCLA. He also treated a number of celebrity clients. He is truly a top skin cancer surgeon and now, with his exceptional skin cancer center in Sarasota, he offers hope and healing to numerous patients. If you’re interested to meet with Dr. Greco in a consultation, we encourage you to contact our office today. 

Doctor media

© Greco Dermatology. All Rights Reserved. A Division of Premier Dermatology, LLC

Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Sitemap

Digital Marketing & Design by Studio III Marketing
Accessibility: If you are vision-impaired or have some other impairment covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law, and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to using this website, please contact our Accessibility Manager at (941) 867-3376.
Contact Us Book Online