Facial Plastic Surgery: Facial Reconstruction After Skin Cancer

Skin cancer normally occurs on areas of our bodies that are most frequently exposed to the sun

, such as the face-so when surgery, like Mohs surgery, is necessary to remove a cancerous lesion on the face or other sun-exposed area, it is difficult for a patient not to be self conscious about their appearance. Facial plastic surgery is a reconstructive technique that allows surgeons to alter and add to the face to restore its appearance after skin cancer removal.

Choosing a Surgeon

It is important to choose a surgeon who is experienced in reconstruction techniques. Simply visiting a plastic surgery center may not be enough, as many focus on more simple cosmetic procedures such as lifts and tucks. Reconstructive surgery can be a bit more complicated depending on your needs as a patient and the availability of extra facial tissue or skin flaps or grafts from other parts of the body.

You may want to ask your surgeon for before and after photographs of cases similar to yours so that you can get a feel for their level of experience and the outcome that you can expect. A good surgeon will always be willing to go over these photos with you and answer any questions you might have.

Minor repairs to the damaged area can be performed under a local anesthesia and can take up to two hours to complete. You should be able to go home on the same day, although it is recommended that you have a friend or family member available to stay with you for the first 24 hours in case of complications. You may also be provided with prescription drugs for pain but recovery time is short and most people return to work within a couple of days.

Protect Your Skin from the Sun

To avoid future possibly cancerous areas from developing, you will need to follow the advice of your doctor and surgeon. Some good general tips include wearing protective sunscreen of 30 SPF of higher whenever you are outside, wearing a visor or hat to shade your face, and limiting the time you spend sunbathing or tanning.

You can also wear a daily moisturizer that can be applied in the morning after washing your face-there are many on the market now that provides some level of sun protection.

As an additional incentive to avoid over-exposing yourself to the sun, remember that excessive sun exposure can speed up visible signs of aging such as sun spots, wrinkles, and skin sagging.

by: Abigail Aaronson

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