Prophylactic surgical procedures in plastic surgery

Numerous types of neoplastic skin or soft tissue proliferations have long been surgically removed for several purposes such as eliminating oncological concerns, improving the function, or gratifying the patient cosmetically. While preemptive removal of a suspicious lesion with oncological concerns may be lifesaving for certain type of well-known premalignant lesions, however, favoring surgery over dermatologic follow-up despite the improved access of sophisticated diagnostics may sometimes associate with unnecessary fears, scars, and costs. Even if the term "prophylactic surgery" is largely considered as a surgical intervention to prevent cancer, there are wide variety of surgical procedures that can primarily be aimed to prevent many diseases or unwanted consequences. This chapter reviews the current approaches for the skin manifestations of well-established, cancer-related conditions with increased malignant potential, premalignant lesions, and some other cancer-unrelated conditions in which the surgical options involved can be discussed as a preventive measure.