A bilobed flap procedure was performed. I know this is an older post, but I needed to vent about my experiences. My anxiety was through the roof but reading your story helped tremendously! The goals of this treatment are to remove the cancer, minimize the chance of it returning and preserve as much healthy skin as possible. I am my own worst enemy by looking at post op pictures and reading every online article. Mohs surgery is a specialized procedure that is used to remove various types of skin cancers in critical areas of cosmetic or functional concern. They do this as many times as they need to in order toremove all cancer cells and get a clear margin around the area. If you are squeamish, you may want to skip it. Way to tight ! I take after his light complexion so I thought it couldn't hurt to get a doctor's opinion. Goals: A paramedian forehead flap was used to repair this large nasal defect created after the removal of a melanoma from her nose. I never really thought about it. I couldn't take a shower for 2 days? But I really felt more like this. A very dear friend, Kayla, was a rock for me. The tape pulled like crazy and I was really uncomfortable. I'm due to see my dermatologist in another month. SAN DIEGO - F rom messy hair to uncooperative bleeders and pesky nerves, Mohs surgery on the scalp and other difficult locations can try the patience and boost stress hormones.. For beginning Mohs surgeons, the best advice is: "Keep your cool and pick your patients carefully," advised Dr. Carlos Garcia. This type of melanoma stays close to the surface of the skin for a while. The technique reduces recurrence and maximizes cosmetic results, often leaving little more than a small scar as evidence of the surgery. I am so grateful for my family for taking such good care of me. Worrying about how your skin may look after the procedure is normal. The flap incisions are all hidden within the natural creases of the face. I had my surgery in the morning and was home and in bed by the afternoon. This post is about my experience with basal cell carcinoma skin cancer and how I had it removed with Mohs surgery. And you might, too. I envision having a lot of stitches but hope I am wrong. At this point I just needed to be stitched up. But I had to wear this gigantic dressing. We use cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. I am hoping that the Dr doesnt have to go back in too many times. During Mohs surgery on the scalp, thin layers of skin containing cancer cells are successively cut away and evaluated under a microscope until there are no remaining signs of cancer present. All the sudden it had become a pretty big deal but most people didn't even know about it. Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin. Cupcakes and Cutlery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. :) Although it's a super common procedure and the doctors and nurses treat it as such, however you are feeling about it is valid! The scar was kind of red and little puffy on one side for a little while. Mohs surgery is commonly used to treat basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It helps hearing your experience. The benefit of Mohs Surgery is the preservation of your healthy skin while removing all of the skin cancer cells. That biopsy came back with them wanting to take more action so I had to do an excisional biospy, that was pretty similar to Mohs surgery. It wasn't awesome, but it was manageable. Basal Cell Carcinoma. Healing after having Mohs surgery on the face. The information on RealSelf is intended for educational purposes only. To be fair, I do remember my dermatologist telling me that I may end up with a few stitches but I've never had stitches, aside from child-birth (hey if I'm sharing, I'm sharing everything) so even a few stitches seemed insignificant. Goals: This patient presented with a through and through defect of the nostril margin. My general practitioner didn't think anything was wrong with those two things but she didn't like the way a mole looked on my back and referred me to a dermatologist. Sometimes, the Mohs surgeon works with a plastic surgeon for a team approach in treating the patient. My head was just so jumbled. But the center has been raised, and red and painful ever since. Mohs surgery includes the stage of defect reconstruction immediately after the tumor excision or with some delay depending on the situation. Is reconstruction surgery necessary after Mohs surgery? Understanding Mohs micrographic surgery: a review and practical guide for the nondermatologist. If you think something is wrong but your doctor isn't listening, for sure get a second opinion! The second stage involved sectioning (separating) the flap attachment. Darrick Antell, MD, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon practicing in New York City, says physicians assess options for reconstruction based on several factors. Thanks again for posting, your scar after 1 year was impossible to see from my screen so that is making me optimistic! You can see how my basal cell carcinoma scar looked a year after this surgery in this post. I think one of the most telling ways to tell if a therapy is "the best" is to survey what "doctors do" when they need a treatment. I just had Mohs on my nose and cried when I took the first bandage off. The tape was still pulling on my skin. The PA said it is common. I hated wearing the dressing more than anything else. A staged cheek flap along with an ear cartilage graft was performed in order to repair her nose. Note that we cannot verify these diagnoses , and we always recommend consulting a . In all of this, I found out I'm pretty much a sissy when it comes to medical procedures. The entire process usually takes between 4-6 hours but can vary if multiple stages are needed. It was certainly not pretty to look at for two or three weeks, and my stitches were removed about four weeks after the surgery.. I know having it on the face is a hard pill to swallow, but I'm hopeful that yours will go well. Reconstruction was achieved using a forehead advancement flap procedure. For any of this. Which meant more stitches. Until you go through it you really dont understand. It left me with a round wound a little larger than a quarter. So thanks for your post. After receiving Botox injections in your forehead, it is important to avoid rubbing or massaging the treated area for at least 24 hours. 100% of the surgical margins are evaluated . WARNING: AFTER PICTURE OF MOHS SURGERY STITCHES COMING UP! I am having the procedure on my nose on July 31st. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Over my first few visits, the dermatologist evaluated my moles and skin (head to toe check!) Post Surgery Wound Images. These are the principles that we uphold in our work every day. Mohs surgery is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, and the . It is highly curable. This 52-year-old had a squamous cell carcinoma removed from the right side of their nasal tip. I didn't really know how to feel about the news. The first stage was performed to transfer skin and soft tissue from the forehead to the nose. Definitely good to know re: showering, as confirms the idea of working from home Friday at least vs. going into office. Although the wound seems to start healing, inevitably it breaks open and we start the process with the vaseline again. You may not be a mom or want to write about anything mom-related, but the framework is basically the same! Reconstruction was achieved using a bilobed local rotation advancement flap procedure, meaning that the skin was brought together and rearranged on the nose using a two-lobed flap. Pavilion B, 4th Floor. That I cried through. There is always a lag as the hair re-enters the growth phase so regrowth may appear patchy at first (because the hair follicles often grow back at varying rates). I loved this place! Overview. Home; Mailing List; Blog; Dr. Cory Yeh; . That first dressing was so big that I had trouble turning my head. They might have some great ideas. Below you can find a large photo bank of Mohs surgery repairs performed at Advanced Dermatology Care. One close friend said, "yeah I had that, they just take it off, right?" Treatment. I was free to get comfy and enjoy the time there as much as possible. Select another Procedure. After my last Mohs surgery which wasn't the largest or worst but it's given me some discomfort. Patient underwent Mohs surgery in two stages resulting in a 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm defect. Browse Mohs Surgery before & after photos shared by doctors on RealSelf. View 918 before and after Mohs Surgery photos, submitted by real doctors, to get an idea of the results patients have . As walking, getting ready for work presents their own physical challenges, working remotely may prove highly advisable, if not necessary (boss will LOVE that!). Video. Hats Are Hot on ChicksLittle & Big. Pressure bandages decrease oozing or bleeding form . The after pictures show results after reconstructive surgery to repair the defects left behind after the cancer was removed. My face has had enough unwanted alterations! Not that big of an area, or so I thought. Thank you for sharing your "journey", and your scar looks GREAT by the way! Wishing the the best on your Mohs nose journey. Ask for tips to see how you can help the scarring. Goals: This patient had nose reconstruction to repair a nasal defect involving the nostril margin and the cheek. Mohs micrographic surgery has the highest cure rate of all treatments for basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. Jon says the numbing shots were the worst part of both Mohs surgery and the following flap surgery, which he had on the same day. This was the picture we sent the boys that first night. Your wound may be red and raised for awhile but most scars will flatten and fade. Swelling and bruising are common following Mohs Surgery, particularly when surgery is performed around the eyes. Even the most well-performed surgeries require adequate postoperative care. If you need to remove basal cell carcinomas or squamous cell carcinomas (BCCs and SCCs), the two most common types of skin cancer, the answer is usually Mohs surgery. To help reduce swelling and bruising, apply an ice pack for 20 minutes each hour while awake for the first 48 hours following Mohs surgery. That is how my phone conversation went with a really good friend after my Mohs surgery. Have you ever had to have basal cell skin cancer removed with Mohs surgery? Belly Button Revision . She loves to share ideas to make mom life easier and encourage busy gals to make time for themselves too! For squamous cell carcinoma, the cure rate is 95% to 99% for new cases and 90% for recurrent cases. The procedure has a 98 . They glued it to my skin and it would fall off on its own in 1-3 weeks. The nostril (nasal ala) was repaired with a 2 staged interpolated cheek flap (nasolabial flap) procedure. I convinced my doctor, instead, to do a punch biopsy. It offers an extremely high cure rate and is especially beneficial on the scalp, given how important it is to preserve normal tissue in this area. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Jacksonville, FL. Asked By: Sandraj in Canada. Following this surgery, there may be a large amount of skin and tissue that had to be removed. 56 year old woman treated for skin cancer defect, Mohs Surgery of Lentigo Maligna (Melanoma) and Reconstruction, Forhead reconstruction after Mohs surgery, Forehead reconstruction after MOHS surgery and Left Brow Lift For Symmetry, Before reconstruction, but after Mohs surgery, Eyelid and cheek skin cancer reconstruction, Mohs skin cancer surgery with reconstruction on the cheek, 25-34 year old woman treated with Mohs Surgery, Basal cell carcinoma MOHs surgery - MOHs Reconstruction, 74 year old woman treated with Mohs Surgery, Mohs Surgery of Basal Cell Carcinoma and Recontruction. In the first stage of this facial reconstruction, skin and soft tissue from the cheek was trasferred to the nose in order to replace the missing tissue. I was a hot and sweaty mess. For the initial biopsy it was also supposed to just need "a few stitches.". If you are having Mohs surgery, here are some things to keep in mind before your procedure: 1. Should I use some Vaseline on it? Olivia Newton-John's emotional personal family photos revealed from . So even though you know this story has a happy ending because I am writing this post, I still have many things to be removed and watched and will for the rest of my life. 732.739.2100. So while the original red mark appeared to be very small, the cancer was actually much larger below the surface. I'm 55, have progressive MS (v. likely BCC caused by one of the meds-since discontinued-Thanks Mayzent!) Sharon's "me" time often includes watching Hallmark Channel movies, sipping sauvignon blanc, trying not to eat Salt and Pepper potato chips, and planning girlfriend getaways. Our website is not intended to be a large amount of skin cancers with... 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