Skin Cancer Surgeon in Venice, FL

Greco Dermatology's Venice office provides full-spectrum skin cancer care, from routine skin exams to Mohs surgery, all under the care of double board-certified Mohs surgeon Dr. Joseph F. Greco III.

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Covering All Phases of Care

Greco Dermatology serves as a comprehensive skin cancer center in Venice, meaning patients don't get passed among separate offices for diagnosis, biopsy, and surgery. Dr. Greco personally handles surveillance, evaluation, and treatment for skin cancer at both the Sarasota and Venice offices, and he serves as the cancer surgeon, dermatopathologist, and reconstructive surgeon on the same day of a procedure. That continuity is the top priority for patients who want one physician who knows their case from the first appointment through recovery.

What Happens During a Skin Check?

A skin check is a head-to-toe visual exam looking for new, changing, or suspicious growths. Here's what the process typically involves:

A head-to-toe visual exam of the skin, looking for new or changing growths
A closer look with a dermatoscope, a handheld, light-based device that reveals microstructures in the skin's surface layers not visible to the naked eye
Little to no downtime, with most appointments fitting easily into a normal workday
A biopsy, if a lesion needs further evaluation
Liquid nitrogen treatment, for select non-cancerous or precancerous spots
A follow-up visit, if the exam calls for continued monitoring rather than immediate treatment

Signs You Need a Skin Exam in Venice, FL

Certain changes in the skin warrant an exam sooner rather than waiting for your next annual visit. Schedule a skin exam if you notice:

A new growth that doesn't go away within four to six weeks
A mole, birthmark, or spot that grows larger or changes color, texture, or shape
A sore that scales, scabs, oozes, erodes, or bleeds for several weeks
A growth with new sensations, such as itching, burning, pain, or tenderness
An open wound that doesn't heal, or that heals and then reopens

The American Academy of Dermatology notes that skin cancer is highly treatable when it's detected early, which is exactly why these changes shouldn't be delayed.

Skin Cancer Lesions We Diagnose and Treat

Basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer, diagnosed in roughly 3.6 million cases across the U.S. each year according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Learn more on our Basal Cell Carcinoma Treatment in Venice, FL page.
Squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common skin cancer, which can grow more quickly than basal cell carcinoma and carries a slightly higher chance of spreading.
Melanoma, a more serious form of skin cancer that the American Cancer Society reports has a 99% five-year survival rate when caught early, but a much lower survival rate once it spreads.
Actinic keratosis, a precancerous, scaly patch caused by sun damage that can progress to squamous cell carcinoma if left untreated.
Moles, cysts, and lipomas, which are usually benign but should still be evaluated if they change.

What to Expect Before, During, and After Skin Cancer Surgery in Venice, FL

Consultation and Biopsy

Before any skin cancer surgery, Dr. Greco confirms the diagnosis with a biopsy. That consultation typically covers:

A biopsy, a small tissue sample examined under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis
A review of the biopsy results and what they mean for treatment
The recommended treatment path, based on the tumor's type, size, and location
What to expect on the day of the procedure, including preparation and timing
Answers to any questions before scheduling surgery

Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Excision

For confirmed skin cancer, Dr. Greco determines which surgical approach fits each patient's tumor type, size, and location:

Mohs micrographic surgery, most often recommended, removes cancerous tissue in thin layers and examines each one microscopically until no cancer cells remain
Cure rates of up to 99% with Mohs, the highest of any skin cancer treatment, according to the American College of Mohs Surgery
Same-day reconstruction, since Dr. Greco reads his own slides and performs the repair the same day, so most patients complete surgery and repair in a single visit
Surgical excision, used for select cases, which removes the tumor along with a margin of healthy surrounding tissue

Recovery and Follow-Up

Recovery time depends on the size and location of the treated area. In general, recovery includes:

Resuming normal activities within days for most patients
Basic wound care instructions to support healing and minimize scarring
A follow-up visit so Dr. Greco can check healing progress
Ongoing skin checks afterward, since one skin cancer diagnosis increases the likelihood of developing another

Non-Surgical and Minimally Invasive Options

Not every lesion requires surgery. Depending on the diagnosis, Dr. Greco may recommend:

Liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy), which freezes precancerous or superficial lesions
Curettage and electrodesiccation, which scrapes away a lesion and uses an electric current to control bleeding and destroy remaining cells
Topical chemotherapy and immune response modifiers, prescribed for certain superficial skin cancers and precancerous lesions
Photodynamic therapy, which combines a light-sensitizing medication with a specific light wavelength

These options are typically reserved for smaller, less invasive cases, and Dr. Greco reviews the tradeoffs of each during the consultation.

What Makes Dr. Joseph Greco the Top Skin Cancer Surgeon in Venice, FL

Dr. Greco is a third-generation physician, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father into medicine, and that family history shapes how he practices: unhurried appointments, direct access to him for follow-up questions, and a personal relationship with every patient rather than a transactional one.

More importantly, Dr. Greco's credentials include the following:

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
A member of The American College of Mohs Surgery
One of the first dermatologic surgeons to pass the American Board of Dermatology subspecialty exam in Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery in 2021
15 years as a Mohs surgeon at UCLA, including 12 years as Director of UCLA Santa Monica Dermatology
More than 20,000 Mohs and excisional surgery procedures performed
Trained 14 Mohs micrographic surgery fellows during his UCLA tenure
Recognized annually as a SuperDoctor in Southern California from 2016 to 2022 and named a TopDoctor in Los Angeles in 2018
Author of book chapters, journal articles, and a frequent faculty presenter at national conferences

Why Fellowship Training Matters

Choosing a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon means choosing a physician who has undergone additional rigorous training beyond residency. Fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons complete a competitive selection process, one to two years of additional hands-on training, exposure to rare tumor pathology and complex wound reconstruction, and a minimum of 650 supervised cases.

Dr. Greco is one of a select number of double board-certified, fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons in the country, which means Venice patients get the same level of surgical training available at major academic medical centers.

Your Next Step: Schedule a Skin Exam in Venice, FL

Every case outlined above started the same way: with a patient who decided not to wait. Skin cancer outcomes come down to timing more than anything else, and a quick skin check today is the biggest advantage you have while a growth is still small and simple to treat. Greco Dermatology makes that first step easy. Patients can be seen at either the Venice or Sarasota office, and a suspicious lesion doesn't have to wait for the next open slot: the practice reserves time for urgent lesion visits so concerns get addressed quickly rather than sitting on a waitlist.

Call (941) 667-5544 to schedule your skin exam or consultation at Greco Dermatology's Venice, FL office, located at 119 Shamrock Blvd, Venice, FL 34293.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with a board-certified dermatologist. Outcomes, risks, and suitability vary from patient to patient.

FAQs

How often should I get a skin check?

Is Mohs surgery painful?

What happens after a positive biopsy?

Does insurance cover a skin exam or skin cancer surgery?

How often should I get a skin check?

Routine skin exams are generally recommended once or twice a year, though patients with higher risk factors or a prior skin cancer diagnosis may need to come in more often.

Is Mohs surgery painful?

Mohs surgery is performed under local anesthesia, and Dr. Greco uses distraction techniques, buffering solutions, and other comfort measures to minimize discomfort during injection. Most patients describe the anticipation as worse than the actual procedure.

What happens after a positive biopsy?

Dr. Greco discusses the diagnosis, the recommended treatment approach, and answers your questions before scheduling the procedure. Most skin cancer cases move from diagnosis to treatment within a few weeks.

Does insurance cover a skin exam or skin cancer surgery?

Most insurance plans cover medically necessary skin exams and skin cancer treatment. The Venice office can help verify your specific coverage ahead of your appointment.