Your diagnosis of skin cancer, including your treatment options and the risks and benefits of Mohs surgery. Mohs surgery (also known as Mohs micrographic surgery) is a method used to remove high-risk skin cancer. Ok, a lot. Goals: This patient had nose reconstruction to repair a nasal defect involving the nostril margin and the cheek. Welcome to Sanova Dermatology, your premier source for cosmetic, medical, and surgical dermatology. I had my surgery in the morning and was home and in bed by the afternoon. New York, NY. If there are any cancer cells in the sample, your surgeon identifies their precise location (according to the markings and map), and removes an additional thin layer of tissue from the area where cancer cells remain. Contact Us Problems that can happen during and after Mohs surgery include: Bleeding Pain or tenderness around the places where surgery was done Infection Other problems that can happen are less common. "This helps to immobilize the wound and facilitate the healing process. Your health providers are required by law to ask questions to make sure youre safe in your domestic situation. *For medical dermatology appointments in MA please dial (978) 525-0100 or fill out the appointment request form above. For a possible head injury, you will be referred to a neurosurgeon. Black eyes can appear after some surgical procedures, such as nose surgery or a facelift. They may instruct you to use petroleum jelly for another couple of weeks. The cure rate with Mohs Surgery is greater than 95% but, unfortunately, not 100%. However, the scar will continue to fade, and it can take up to a year to see the final results of the healing process. Increased activity also increases the chances of popping stitches which would obviously interfere with the healing process. Black Eye Recovery Time. Here are some recommended home remedies for black, A minor eye injury, like getting poked in the eye, can have a fast recovery, or it could result in serious complications. Once the Mohs surgeon has removed all of the tumor cells or surrounding areas, they will make their final assessment as to how best proceed with wound repair. This procedure is one of the, 784 Central Avenue, Dover, New Hampshire(603) 742-5556, 2299 Woodbury Ave, Suite 3 The Beane Farm, Newington, NH(603) 742-5556, 23 Centennial Drive, Peabody, MA(978) 525-0100, 1C Commons Drive, Suite 16, Londonderry, NH(603) 742-5556, 160 South River Road, Suite 2400, Bedford, NH(603) 742-5556, If your desired appointment type or preferred provider is unavailable online, kindly call (978) 525-0100 for Peabody, MA and (603) 742-5556 for all New Hampshire locations. The Mohs surgery procedure treats the most common forms of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). After undergoing surgery, its important to use moisturizers that help keep the skin hydrated while providing a barrier between your newly-healed skin and irritating elements like sweat or wind. All Rights Reserved. Even the extreme precision and accuracy used in Mohs surgery, the gold standard method for removing cancerous tumors from the skin, can lead to an occasional unwanted result. What should I expect for after care needs? Will I get a black eye? "*, "I have been a patient at this office for quite awhile and am more than happy with all aspects of this practice. Your surgeon numbs the skin around the cancer cells with an injected. This can happen if small nerve endings are cut. From surgeons to staff, our entire team focuses on your health . Apply ice or cold packs regularly in the days following surgery to reduce swelling and bruising just be sure not to put the ice directly on your skin. An hour later and I was the new owner of 20+ stitches front and center on my face (with more underneath the skin) and lots of iodine to enhance my natural coloring. Dr . How long the procedure takes depends on the tumor itself: bigger, deeper tumors take longer to remove completely. Often a small red area may develop surrounding your wound. Following these tips should help you reduce post-surgery swelling and discoloration while also facilitating quicker overall recovery rate if adopted as part of a comprehensive regimen. Mohs surgery is also sometimes used to treat other skin cancers, including certain melanomas, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, microcystic adnexal carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma and extramammary Paget disease, among others. After the wound has healed well, most patients can be followed by their referring physician. This is something that should be discussed with the physician who performed your procedure, and I'm surprised wasn't already discussed with you. This usually subsides within four to five days after surgery and may be decreased by the use of an ice pack in the first 24 hours. Raccoon eyes refers to blood that settles under the eyes and is associated with a fracture in the base of the skull. If you seek medical treatment for a black eye, your doctor will perform a basic examination. In fact, one in five Americans are projected to develop skin cancer over their lifetime, according to the . This should be done frequently during the first 12 hours after surgery. You may need to stop or start a medication prior to surgery based on your existing conditions. By removing the smallest amount of healthy tissue, it also offers superior cosmetic results. This is the lowest recurrence rate of any other treatment for skin cancer. If an eye injury is suspected, youll be referred to an ophthalmologist. In case the defect is on the face, lids, or eye itself, a specialist ophthalmologist with exclusive training in this area will assist in the reconstruction procedure.  I will tell you that whenever physicians have a basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma on their nose, Mohs seems to be their first choice of treatment. • Your surgical wound will require care during the weeks following the surgery. At times, the area surrounding your operative site will be numb to the touch. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Here are 3 tips to reduce swelling and discoloration from Mohs surgery: Cold compresses can help reduce swelling, discomfort, and inflammation. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Even surgery on the forehead can sometimes cause a black eye because gravity pulls the tiny blood droplets down towards the eyelid. Thyroid Eye Disease (Graves' Ophthalmopathy) Eyelid Malposition - Entropion & Ectropion . It is very common to develop ablack eye after Mohsaround the eyes and nose. Skin grafting or skin flaps could be an option if necessary, while more significant amounts of tissue removal may require a follow-up plastic surgery appointment down the line. Most patients do quite well taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). We avoid using tertiary references. Sleeping with an extra pillow helps, If bleeding occurs, apply firm continuous pressure over bandage for 20-30 minutes without removing the bandage, or looking to see if it has stopped, Exercise or other strenuous activity that places tension on the surgical site (weight lifting, golf, etc.) How long it takes for a black eye to heal can be anywhere from a week to three weeks. Choosing reconstruction after Mohs surgery on the face is a delicate balance between option and necessity. 68 year old male, with large right eyelid and nose defect after Mohs surgery to remove basal cell carcinoma, underwent eyelid reconstruction. Because the surgery removes only tissue with cancer cells, it is commonly used on areas of the body where it is important to minimize the removal of healthy tissue. We'll also answer if you can get a black eye after Mohs surgery and tips on how to recover from it quickly. It's done in stages, all in one visit, while you wait. However, the use of pressure should stop this. You should cover your wound with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) at least until your sutures are removed (one to two weeks). What matters most is the quality of the reconstruction. What type of services are you interested in? The nostril (nasal ala) was repaired with a 2 staged interpolated cheek flap (nasolabial flap) procedure. Once the dressing is no longer needed, be sure to protect your scar using sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30, as well as protective hats during any sun exposure. Pre-op Size: 1.6 cm x 1 cm The patient has a 1.6 x 1 cm tumor located on the left lower eyelid. What Should Patients Do After Mohs Surgery and Reconstruction. You can see how my basal cell carcinoma scar looked a year after this surgery in this . University Station Eye Clinic, call (608) 263-7171. It does not burn and maintains an antibacterial environment. Treatment is difficult, but prevention is possible in many instances. Involving another surgical specialist like an oculoplastic (around the eye) or facial. When I suture, I create a raised suture line called an eversion. . These are general instructions for care after common ear surgeries. But trying to minimize the reconstruction just to make a smaller scar can lead to an undesirable result. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The area was infiltrated with local anesthesia. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. But if your skin cancer is caught early before it spreads to other areas its possible that youll be cured in a single day with a precise procedure called Mohs micrographic surgery. Pain, tenderness and swelling usually accompany bruising after surgery. I wish you the best of luck, Dr. Emer. One Mohs on my ear is more obvious. Tumors in this location are included in Area H (eyelids, eyebrows, nose, lips, chin, ear, pre-auricular, post-auricular, temple, genitalia, hands, feet, ankles, and areola). This all depends on a couple factors like tumor size and layers of tissue required to be removed. Call your surgeon if: An infected wound can lengthen your recovery time and make your scar heal less optimally. They remove any visible, raised area of the tumor. Mohs micrographic surgery is a skin cancer treatment that removes all of the cancer, minimizes the risk of recurrence, and leaves as little scarring as possible. Many patients have an allergic reaction to antibiotic creams. For any pain and throbbing, you may take pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. A black eye can happen when something strikes a person on the face. "There are certain patients you don't want to have for your first cases, so choose .