If you have had cancerous cells removed with Mohs surgery, you lost far less of the surrounding tissue than would have been lost through other more invasive treatments. Nonetheless, the area treated may require Mohs reconstruction, particularly if on the face or other visible area of your body.
A very small tissue excision may not require reconstruction, leaving only a minor scar. Areas that required larger quantities of tissue to be removed may be repaired by stitching the area together – but larger, more complex surgical wounds will require reconstruction to restore a natural appearance to the area.
After Mohs surgery is complete, the treated area will be bandaged to protect it. The same day, or the next day, you can meet with our reconstructive surgeons to plan the procedure you will need to restore your appearance. Each procedure is customized to match the degree of visible damage.
When it comes to Mohs reconstruction in Phoenix and Scottsdale, our team of board-certified plastic surgeons provide some of the best results around.
When a larger area of the face or body has been treated with Mohs reconstruction in Phoenix, it may require a skin graft or flap surgery. This harvested body material is transferred to the wound to close the defect.
The goal of the surgery is to restore the face or body area, so it appears natural and normal. These treatments demand a high level of surgical skill and artistry to achieve a positive outcome.
At Arizona Aesthetic Associates, we perform Mohs reconstruction surgery in Scottsdale for the following areas:
One of the most common procedures to resolve the damage after Mohs surgery is called flap surgery. A skin flap may be the appropriate treatment for specific surgical wounds. The flap is tissue adjacent to the surgical wound that has a blood supply. This tissue is placed over the surgical wound. Several types of flaps may be used, based upon the unique condition of the patient.
Each type refers to the direction in which the surrounding skin and tissue is stretched to cover the wound. All skin flaps require a blood supply to continue to be viable and supply nutrients to the injured area, so it can heal and become living part of the face or body. In some cases, the wound is too large or there is insufficient surrounding tissue to use this technique. In these cases, a free flap may be necessary.
If you know you will be facing a reconstructive surgery after treatment, it is advised that you meet with us at Arizona Aesthetic Associates prior to undergoing Mohs reconstruction surgery in Phoenix. The surgical repair will be coordinated with your Mohs surgeon, frequently performed on the same day. For more extensive surgical wounds, it may require a longer, more complex surgical reconstruction. The optimal solution is to have the Mohs surgical wound repaired in the same surgery. You will have only one period of recovery and will not be facing days and weeks without having the surgical wound repair.
Many minor Mohs surgery wounds can be repaired directly after the cancer cells are removed with Mohs surgery. For smaller wounds, the adjacent skin may be moved to cover the wound, or the use of a skin graft. The graft is typically harvested from the skin near the ear or base of the neck. For complex cases, it may require several surgeries to completely restore a facial area such as the nose or lips.
For more information about Mohs skin cancer reconstruction in Scottsdale, please contact our office to schedule a consultation with one of our highly esteemed plastic surgeons.
The recovery time for Mohs reconstruction in Phoenix is typically less than a week, with any stitches removed about one week after the procedure. The pain factor is not usually significant, and usually can be managed with over the counter medication.
Initially, the area will be noticeable, but as the days and weeks pass, the scars heal and become less visible. At Arizona Aesthetic Associates we offer advanced scar treatments to help you have the smoothest, least noticeable, and most natural result.
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