This atlas presents an in-depth pictorial display of cutaneous surgery designed for all those interested in improving their surgical skills — from students and residents to experienced surgeons across many medical specialties. Surgery is first learned visually. Often, we see before and after photographs and wonder what took place in between. Our goal is to provide step-by-step instructions through a series of detailed color photographs illustrating the technique in between.

The field of dermatologic surgery has advanced tremendously over the last few decades. Once limited to relatively simple repairs, dermatologic surgery now encompasses major reconstructive surgical techniques. This atlas is a culmination of the years of experience gained by the authors in the surgical management of skin cancers. The defects are from a variety of locations, although mainly centered on the head and neck. The repairs vary in type and size in order to provide multiple reconstructive options. The photographs do not necessarily represent the best outcomes but are the highest-quality photographs that illustrate the full steps involved in the reconstruction. We believe that there are many ways to repair a defect, and the surgeon must understand all the different possibilities and ultimately be flexible in order to yield the best results. As such, we have provided as many variations as possible.