Scalp Biopsies

Set up

Scalp biopsies are short procedures performed under local anesthesia which allows a small 4 mm cylindrical sample of hair and skin to be obtained from the scalp.

A "punch" is a sharp circular instrument that allows a core of skin to be taken. Once the sample is removed from the scalp, it is placed in a liquid solution called formalin and then sent off to the laboratory. A suture, also known as a stitch, is generally placed in the scalp at the site where the biopsy was performed.