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Congress Cosmetic Medical Corp.
Marilyn Mehlmauer, M.D.
10 Congress Street, Suite 320
Pasadena, CA 91105
Phone: (626) 585-9474
Fax: (626) 585-9480
Dr. Marilyn Mehlmauer has extensive dermatological experience and specializes in cosmetic and cancer surgery. All of the procedures below are done in Dr. Mehlmauer’s accredited on-site surgical facility. Click on the links below to learn about our treatment options.
To schedule a consultation with one of our highly qualified nurses, contact our office.
Skin Cancer Removal
Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers, but is also one of the most curable if detected and treated in its earliest stages. As a dermatologist and dermatopathologist, Dr. Mehlmauer is uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat skin cancer.
There are three forms of skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. If a skin biopsy reveals that an area of the skin is cancerous, Dr. Mehlmauer will treat the cancer according to your individual needs. Skin cancers can be treated by cryotherapy, topical immunotherapy, or excision, or through surgical removal using the Mohs technique, outlined below.
Most pre-cancerous lesions are easily treated by a topical medication, cryotherapy, or light therapy. Early detection is vital in preventing skin cancers.
Mohs Surgery
The only way to prevent recurrence of cancer is to remove every last cell, since cancer cells spread by reproducing. While large cancers can be seen with the naked eye, cancer at the cellular level can only be seen with a microscope. The Mohs technique, named after Frederick Mohs, the physician who developed it, uses detailed mapping and immediate microscopic examination of the surgically removed skin to remove the cancer completely. The cure rate for Mohs Surgery is the highest of all treatments for skin cancer.
Using an especially accurate microscope, Dr. Mehlmauer can examine the tissue during the operation and ensure that every last cancer cell has been removed. The microscope allows Dr. Mehlmauer to remove the cancer, while ensuring that the maximum amount of healthy, cancer-free tissue is left intact. Following your Mohs surgery Dr. Mehlmauer will perform careful reconstructive surgery to repair the site and to create an aesthetically pleasing result.
Reconstruction
The best method of managing the wound resulting from surgery is determined after the cancer is completely removed. When the final defect is known, treatment is individualized to achieve the best results, while preserving function and beauty. Dr. Mehlmauer strives to achieve the best cosmetic result and may utilize lasers to ensure that the treated area is as smooth and natural looking as possible.
Indications
Mohs surgery is primarily used to treat basal and squamous cell carcinomas, but can be used to treat less common tumors including melanoma. You may be a candidate for Mohs if:
- you have been treated for cancer previously and it has recurred
- scar tissue exists in the area of the cancer
- the cancer is in an area, such as the eyelids, nose, ears, and lips, where it is important to preserve the maximum amount of healthy tissue for functional and cosmetic results
- the cancer is large or growing rapidly
- the edges of the cancer cannot be clearly defined
Psoriasis and Vitiligo
Psoriasis and vitiligo are skin conditions that can cause stress and embarrassment to sufferers. Psoriasis results when your body produces too many skin cells, causing the skin in the affected area to swell and become flaky. Patients with psoriasis often experience red, itchy, and tender skin on the scalp, hands, feet, stomach, knees, and elbows. Vitiligo is a disorder that affects the pigment of the skin and causes white patches to appear on various areas of the body.
Both psoriasis and vitiligo are thought to be hereditary, but can occur in anybody. Doctors have not determined what exactly triggers each of these skin conditions, and no 100 percent effective cure has been found. However, both can be improved with treatment. Topical creams and changes in diet can sometimes reduce the occurrence of psoriasis and vitiligo, but not in all cases. If these conservative treatments fail, Dr. Mehlmauer may recommend laser therapy with an Excimer laser. This UVB laser administers light therapy for safe, effective clearing of psoriasis and vitiligo. Treatment takes as little as five minutes, and after several sessions, relieves these skin conditions for an average of six months or longer.
Photodynamic Therapy for Acne and Sun-damaged Skin
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a two-step process that can help treat cystic acne and sun-damaged skin. PDT utilizes a special topical solution that is applied to the skin prior to exposure to blue light, such as the Blu-U® blue light. This solution is only absorbed by abnormal cells, such as those present in acne-prone areas, pre-cancerous skin lesions, and sun-damaged skin. Since only the “bad” cells are targeted by the blue light treatment that follows, the skin is quickly restored to a healthy, normal condition. While PDT is effective in treating pre-cancerous skin conditions, it is also very effective in controlling acne, preventing acne scars, reducing pore size, decreasing oiliness, and smoothing skin tone.
The first step is the application of the light-absorbing solution. This liquid is left on your skin for 45-60 minutes while it selectively sinks into pimples, acne cysts, overactive sebaceous glands, and other abnormal areas, leaving the normal skin unaffected. The absorption of the solution turns the acne and sun-damaged skin into "targets" for the next step.
In the second step of PDT, the unabsorbed solution is removed from your skin and you are placed under a special blue light. This light is drawn only to the affected areas which have absorbed the topical solution. Over time the bacteria responsible for the acne are killed and skin lesions are greatly reduced.
Blu U® Acne Treatment
Acne can be an embarrassing problem that lasts beyond the teen years. Blu-U® blue light acne treatment acts by killing acne-causing bacteria. The procedure is non-invasive and completely pain free, and takes only 15 minutes. Dr. Mehlmauer will develop a treatment plan with you based on your unique skin needs. Typically one to two treatments a week for four to six weeks are necessary.
During the procedure, you will rest comfortably while your skin is exposed to the Blu-U® Acne light. The Blu-U® system effectively clears 70 percent of moderate, inflammatory acne in just a few weeks, results that typically last up to eight months.
Blu-U® acne treatment is perfectly safe and approved for all ages and skin types. The system’s blue-violet light penetrates just deep enough into the tissue to reach the acne target, without adversely affecting surrounding skin. The Blu-U® acne treatment has no known side effects.
Sclerotherapy
Pronounced blood vessels and large veins can not only make you self-conscious about your legs, but can also be quite painful. Certain conditions and activities that put pressure on the veins, such as gaining weight and sitting or standing for long periods of time, can contribute to the development of spider and varicose veins. Dr. Mehlmauer treats spider and varicose veins with sclerotherapy, which consists of using a very tiny syringe to inject a sclerosing solution into the vein.
Before the procedure, Dr. Mehlmauer will thoroughly cleanse the affected area with alcohol. Using the micro-needle, Dr. Mehlmauer injects a small amount of the solution into the vein, which causes irritation to its lining. The vein swells shut, and will eventually turn white and gradually disappear.
Dr. Mehlmauer may also choose to use laser treatment to deliver a precise dosage of energy to each vein in a series of brief pulses. The blood vessel absorbs this light energy and coagulates, eventually being absorbed by your body.
Depending on the severity of your case, Dr. Mehlmauer will form a treatment plan for your unique needs. Vessels often require additional treatments at three week intervals.