If you have squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma on your face, your doctor might recommend a Mohs micrographic procedure. During Mohs surgery, your doctor will remove one layer of tissue at a time and then immediately send the sample to a laboratory to check for cancer cells. The procedure continues until no more cancer cells are found. This surgery is known for having high cure rates and for reducing the appearance of scar tissue compared to other surgeries. However, if you have skin cancer on your nose, you might wonder if you still qualify for this surgery. Read on to learn why Mohs is challenging to perform on the nose and how your doctor can improve post-surgical outcomes.
Why Is the Nose Challenging for Mohs Surgery?
While a scar in another area of the body may lie flat and fade, a scar on the nose may not blend as well because of the nose's distinct anatomical features. An article in the journal of Facial Plastic Surgery says that Mohs surgery presents unique challenges around the nasal area because doctors will want to preserve the aesthetics of the nose as well as nasal function. Despite these challenges, the good news is that your doctor can provide surgical reconstruction options during and after surgery.
How Do Mohs Reconstruction Procedures Work?
If only a few layers of tissue are removed and the nose's anatomy isn't greatly altered, your doctor may decide to let the incision heal on its own without further intervention. Your doctor will provide you with the usual after-care instructions, such as cleaning the wound and using any prescription ointment. Some patients might opt for dermal fillers or laser skin treatments to smooth out any scar tissue.
If more tissue layers are taken off during Mohs surgery, then your doctor might recommend a local flap placement or a skin graft. During a local flap placement, your doctor will take a small amount of skin from another area of your body and stretch it over the surgical site. This procedure is usually performed a few days after Mohs surgery. If the incision site is too large for a local flap, then your doctor might recommend a skin graft. The skin graft can be taken from another area of your body or from a donor.
Lastly, if your doctor expects that you will need more coverage over the incision on your nose, then he or she might recommend a staged procedure. During a staged procedure, your doctor will place a small expander under some healthy skin on the forehead. This expander will stretch the skin slightly and create more tissue which then can be used to cover the wound during Mohs surgery.
Reach out to a dermatologist today for more details.
Share19 September 2022
We are all covered in skin. It plays a number of roles in our body, helping to keep us warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It keeps our organs in place, and it even eliminates waste. But like any other organ, your skin can develop a number of health issues as time goes on. Maybe you develop acne, or perhaps you become affected by psoriasis or eczema. Dermatologists are there to help. This blog is all about doctors who specialize in dermatology, the work they do, and how they can help you get the skin you've always desired.
