When to Consider Mohs Reconstruction After Skin Cancer Surgery

More than 9,500 people receive a skin cancer diagnosis each day. These staggering numbers make it one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States and beyond. But effectively treating skin cancer is only the beginning. 

For many men and women, skin cancer appears in highly visible areas, like the face, which can cause concerns about the impact your treatment will have on your appearance. 

At the Aesthetic Surgery Center, Dr. Elliott H. Rose brings his expertise as a plastic surgeon to men and women on the Upper East Side of New York City. By using all of his training in reconstructive and cosmetic facial surgery, Dr. Rose can help you achieve the most pleasing appearance and functional outcomes after having skin cancer treatment with Mohs reconstruction.

If you need to have skin cancer surgery, here’s what you should know about Mohs surgery and reconstruction.

How Mohs surgery treats skin cancer

Mohs surgery is a precise, tissue-preserving approach to treating skin cancer. 

During this procedure, your highly trained dermatologist, who specializes in Mohs micrographic excision, focuses on removing as much cancer as possible while causing minimal damage to healthy tissue in the area. To do this, they shave off thin layers of skin a little at a time and evaluate them under a microscope. 

This process allows them to differentiate abnormal (cancerous) cells from healthy tissue, so they can successfully excise all of your skin cancer without removing too much healthy tissue at the same time. 

Mohs surgery comes with a 98-99% success rate, making it the most effective treatment for curing most forms of skin cancer. But even with its focus on preserving healthy tissue, it can still leave visible wounds. Fortunately, Dr. Rose can significantly restore the look and function of these areas through Mohs reconstruction.

Mohs reconstruction

Mohs reconstructive surgery involves using specific plastic surgery and reconstruction techniques to rebuild areas of your face, nose, neck, ears, hands, or scalp after having the surgery. Dr. Rose might recommend a variety of Mohs reconstruction procedures, depending on the location of your skin cancer surgery, the amount of tissue removed, and the type of tissue affected. 

Common Mohs reconstruction techniques include:

• Flap techniques: Using attached tissue in the area
• Bone or cartilage grafting: Using bone or cartilage from elsewhere on your body
• Skin grafts: Using healthy skin from another part of your body

Before your Mohs surgery, Dr. Rose and our staff work closely with your dermatologist to evaluate your treatment plan and develop a strategy for your reconstruction. In many cases, you can have your Mohs skin cancer surgery under local anesthesia in the morning and your reconstruction procedure immediately following under twilight sedation.

This coordinated approach in our relaxing, fully licensed, spalike facility not only keeps you comfortable throughout the entire process, but it also reduces any inconvenience associated with your procedures. In most cases, Dr. Rose can also perform your reconstruction during one surgery. However, approximately 15% of men and women require at least two procedures.

To learn more about Mohs reconstruction and whether it’s right for you, call us at 332-255-5375  or book your consultation online today. You can also send Dr. Rose and the team a message here on our website.