Gary McKnight is the head basketball coach at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana. At his time there he has become the winningest high school basketball coach in California history. See a video about his story HERE.
Coach McKnight has led Mater Dei to more than 1250 victories, including a National Championship and 11 California State Titles. He has coached nine players who have gone on to play in the NBA.
More recently, he has faced a different battle. “At a regular checkup, my doctor saw a spot on my face and said, we’ve got to get you to the best, and referred me to the SCARS Center. I went in there and they said it required Mohs surgery. Two Mohs surgeries and big reconstructions on my face.”
McKnight had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on his cheek, neck and ear.
Dr. Adam Aronson and Dr. Matthew Goodman performed the Mohs surgery, followed by Dr. Simon Madorsky reconstructing the defects. “They all took good care of me. There is no guesswork. They get you in right on time, they explain what they need to do. I went in the morning and I walked out in the afternoon, cancer free and reconstructed.”
“I had four skin cancers—the first two didn’t require plastic surgery, the last two did. It was major surgery. Dr. Madorsky was really caring and I’ve still got my good looks.”
At first, his students were worried about him, but his current students don’t even know it happened because he healed so well.
Coach McKnight is now an advocate for skin health and getting regular skin checks. “I really encourage people to go and get checked and stay on top of it. Especially here in Southern California where the sun is beating down. Probably being a basketball coach instead of a baseball coach saved my life, because I wasn’t out in the sun all the time.
He is in charge of 86 young men and consistently reminds them about protecting their skin.
“I talk to the kids all the time about wearing sunscreen when they go to the beach and surf. I say ‘put it on your ears, your nose, your forehead. Wear a baseball cap. You all know what happened to me.”
We are offering a new product that is the first of its kind. SkinVive is often referred to as a “skin booster” rather than a filler since its job isn’t to rebuild volume like other fillers, but rather to hydrate your skin and give you a glowy look.SkinVive, developed by Juvederm and approved by the FDA in May, is now available to our patients. This new treatment can add long-term hydration to the skin and smoothness of the cheeks. These injections also stimulate collagen production, helping to correct lines and wrinkles while improving skin elasticity. Following treatment, skin quality is vastly improved with patients reporting skin that feels and appears more radiant and refreshed.
SkinVive is a minimally invasive treatment with little to no downtime. It works synergistically with other cosmetic treatments like Botox, lasers, and dermal fillers. SkinVive can easily be added to your Botox treatment and it takes only about 10-15 minutes.
How is SkinVive Unique?
Unlike traditional dermal fillers that replace lost volume or define facial features, SkinVive’s tiny microdroplets are injected near the skin’s surface, enhancing skin hydration and smoothness.
What are the Benefits of SkinVive?
- Improves skin smoothness
- Increases skin hydration from within
- Reduces lines and wrinkles
- Stimulates collagen production
- No downtime following treatment
What Facial Areas can be Treated with SkinVive?
SkinVive is currently FDA approved to improve skin smoothness of the cheeks.
How Does SkinVive Work?
Aging leads to a loss of collagen, elastin, and hydration, resulting in lines and wrinkles. SkinVive’s hyaluronic acid replenishes hydration and combats aging effects, leaving the skin plump and hydrated.
How Long Does SkinVive Last?
Most patients experience improved skin hydration and smoothness for up to six months. Individual results may vary based on skincare routines, genetics, and other treatments.
Is SkinVive Right for Me?
During your consultation, your provider will assess your aesthetic goals. If you suffer from dry skin, fine lines, or loss of elasticity, SkinVive could be an excellent choice.
DID YOU KNOW?
We are also a Center for Skin Cancer. The Appearance Center is under the same roof and the same leadership as the Skin Cancer and Reconstructive Surgery Center. Our Appearance Center physicians also treat skin cancer patients, performing complex cancer reconstructions, and addressing post-cancer cosmetic issues.
We want ALL of our patients to know about an exciting new technology to help with the diagnosis of melanoma. We are excited to provide Nevisense, a novel tool for detection of melanoma. This FDA-approved, non-invasive, and highly accurate device allows for early detection of potential melanomas without the need for skin biopsies.
Nevisense: A Groundbreaking Approach to Early Detection
Nevisense is a cutting-edge technology designed to address the limitations of traditional melanoma detection methods. Developed by SciBase, a Swedish medical technology company, Nevisense employs Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to non-invasively analyze the electrical properties of skin lesions. This innovative approach allows for a more accurate and objective assessment of melanoma risk.
How Nevisense Works
Nevisense works by measuring the electrical impedance of the skin at different frequencies. The device sends a painless, low-frequency electrical signal into the skin, and the resulting impedance data is analyzed by an AI algorithm. The impedance patterns produces by melanomas are different from those of benign moles.
Key Advantages of Nevisense
- Non-Invasive and Painless: Nevisense is a non-invasive procedure that does not require the removal of tissue for analysis. This makes it a more comfortable experience for patients compared to traditional biopsy methods.
- Objective and Quantifiable: The electrical impedance measurements provide an objective and quantifiable assessment of skin lesions, reducing the subjectivity associated with visual inspections.
- Early Detection: Nevisense has demonstrated a high sensitivity for detecting melanoma at its earliest stages, allowing for prompt intervention and improved treatment outcomes.
- Complementary to Visual Inspection: Nevisense is designed to complement traditional visual inspection methods, offering a comprehensive approach to melanoma detection.
Schedule a skin check at the SCARS Center to see if you are a candidate for this groundbreaking diagnostic tool.