“I definitely recommend him! ”
So grateful to him for working so diligently and skillfully on my face. The cancer grew so fast. I was so scared, but he did a great job. I definitely recommend him! He does a great job of explaining every step of the surgery and healing process.
Introduction to Skin Cancer Reconstruction
The removal of skin cancer with Mohs surgery can be a lifesaving procedure, but it unfortunately can also leave behind damaged skin tissue. Restoring your skin is possible with Skin Cancer Reconstruction in the San Francisco Bay area. At Raj Dedhia MD Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Raj Dedhia and his team will work closely with oncology doctors to treat the melanoma at the source and provide aesthetic reconstruction after skin cancer removal. To learn more about this life-improving procedure, please continue to read the information provided below.
What is Skin Cancer Reconstruction?
Skin Cancer Reconstruction is a cosmetic procedure that, while not always required after Mohs, is a very important follow-up procedure for many patients, and is just as valuable as skin cancer removal. Many patients who have reconstruction surgery feel as though they are fully healed once their skin lesion is repaired since there is no longer the daily reminder of their cancer, allowing them to move on with their normal lives.
Mohs surgery microscopically maps out the path of your skin cancer with precision while removing cancerous cells in the tissue, one layer at a time. With each layer examined, the surrounding areas are checked for cancerous cells until no more cancer cells are detected, but very often, there is a wound left behind.
Although Mohs surgery was created to minimize the risk of scarring and the need for additional plastic surgery, many patients require plastic surgery to reconstruct the area where the cancer was removed. This is particularly true of the head and neck region, where even a small amount of tissue removal on the eyelids, nose, ears, lips and face can require complex reconstruction. Dr. Dedhia can assess the wound left after skin cancer surgery and determine the best strategy to repair existing skin defects and restore a natural-looking appearance. Often times your Mohs surgeon will coordinate with Dr. Dedhia to have the reconstruction scheduled the same day.
Facial Skin cancer reconstruction can be achieved through several surgical options, including:
- Primary repair of the wound edges with sutures
- Skin grafting
- Local flap reconstruction (e.g., forehead flap, melolabial flap, bilobe and rhombic flaps)
- Nasal reconstruction
- Major facial reconstruction
- Scar revision
What are the benefits of Skin Cancer Reconstruction?
Dr. Dedhia and his team have seen our patients enjoy the following benefits from Skin Cancer Reconstruction in San Francisco:
- Repair is precise and provides facial harmony
- Provides the best reconstruction with least morbidity
- Improves confidence
- Has a high cure rate
- Quick healing time
- Preserves healthy tissues
- Low recurrence rate
- Visible scarring is reduced
Who are the best candidates for the Skin Cancer Reconstruction procedure?
If you have had skin cancer removed from your face, skin cancer reconstruction might be the next best step for you. The best candidates for San Francisco Skin Cancer Reconstruction are patients who have non-melanoma skin cancers, squamous cell carcinoma, or basal cell carcinoma on their face. We also believe good candidates are in good overall health, can undergo surgery under local anesthetic or general anesthetic, and have realistic expectations for the outcome of the surgery.
Skin Cancer Reconstruction Consultation
What’s the first step?
The first step in getting Skin Cancer Reconstruction surgery in the San Francisco Bay area is to contact Raj Dedhia MD Facial Plastic Surgery and schedule a consultation. When you come into our office to meet with Dr. Dedhia, he will answer any questions you may have, address any concerns, and examine the area you are looking to have treated. He will discuss the different options you have and what he believes would be best for you. It is very important to be open and honest with Dr. Dedhia when having this conversation because it will not only help you achieve the best aesthetic results but will also prevent any unnecessary risks.
Your surgery typically is coordinated with your Mohs surgeon or skin cancer removal surgeon to be on the same day or in the same setting. If you choose to move forward with the surgery, Dr. Dedhia will create your surgical plan and our Patient Coordinator will help you select a date for your procedure. You will be provided with some directions to follow before surgery so that you can have the most successful surgery possible, as well as a more comfortable recovery.
What to expect on the day of Skin Cancer Reconstruction surgery
On the day of your Skin Cancer Reconstruction surgery, you will meet with Dr. Dedhia one more time to review the steps of your surgery again and may make some markings that will act as a guide during the procedure. You will then meet our Anesthesiologist who will ask you some medical questions and administer your anesthesia.
Depending on the size of the cancerous lesion, the location, the types of tissues affected, and the depth of its roots, Dr. Dedhia may utilize one or more of the following techniques for your San Francisco Skin Cancer Reconstruction.
Primary Closure
Primary Closure using sutures is the most straightforward method when repairing a skin cancer defect. This technique converts the wound from a circular opening to a linear scar. The wound will first be made longer to allow the edges to come together evenly and avoid skin bunching, with the final scar tending to be two to three times the length of the original defect. A longer scar with smooth skin edges is often less visible than a shorter scar with bunched edges.
There are natural lines that correspond to tissue elasticity called relaxed skin tension lines (RSTL). When incisions are placed in the same direction as these lines, the scars blend in much better and are less visible than incisions that are placed across these lines. Dr. Dedhia takes a great amount of care when selecting the best orientation of the final scar concerning these skin lines, as well as the scar’s proximity to your surrounding facial structures.
Flap Surgery
Flap Surgery is the most utilized form of skin cancer reconstruction. It involves using skin that is immediately adjacent to the site of the cancer. There are a number of different types of local flaps that each have different designs and specific methods of movement. The exact type of flap chosen is based on the location and size of the defect left after skin cancer removal, along with the unique characteristics of the skin in that location.
Many local flaps involve extending incisions from the original cancer defect to allow for a flap of skin to be rotated or advanced to cover the defect. The final shape of the scar created may have an irregular shape (as opposed to a straight line) and the scar length may be quite a bit longer than the size of the original defect. The primary goal is to re-drape the skin smoothly and hide scarring as much as possible in existing facial lines and creases.
More complex flaps such as forehead flaps and melolabial flaps take tissue from an area more distant to the defect and are used for more complex reconstructions, particularly of the nose. These may require multiple stages of surgery to optimize the reconstruction.
Some of the advantages of flap surgery include a closer color and contour match, and it can be designed with the best thickness to match the depth of the cancer defect. Typically following flap repair, sutures will remain in place for up to one week and will be removed in the office at follow-up.
Skin Graft
Skin Grafting involves removing skin from one portion of the body to repair a defect in another location. Skin grafts can be taken as partial thickness (shaving off the very top layer of skin without an incision) or full thickness (surgically removed and sutured closed). Partial thickness grafts tend to heal with significant contraction and may appear lighter in color and shinier than the surrounding skin, so they may be utilized in certain locations, but are rarely the first choice for repairing defects.
One advantage of skin grafts includes avoiding extending or placing additional incisions at the skin cancer removal site which are designed to perfectly match the shape of the defect. Commonly selected sites include high on the forehead, behind or just in front of the ear, or low on the neck. Dr. Dedhia will carefully choose the location of the donor tissue that has the best color, surface, and thickness to match the cancer defect. One of the key disadvantages of skin grafting is the limited color and contour match to the skin; since the skin is taken from a different location on the body, the match isn’t always seamless.
During surgery, Dr. Dedhia will remove the graft and suture the incision closed in a fine line. He then takes the removed skin and sutures it into its new location. This can be a very quick and reliable method to repair some facial defects. A special dressing called a “bolster” is often placed at the time of surgery and sewn in place to prevent the graft from moving. This is typically kept for one week and is then removed in the office at follow-up.
Skin grafts can only be used to repair fairly shallow cancer defects because taking a very thick graft decreases the chance of it receiving enough new blood supply to survive following the procedure. Despite these limitations, a skin graft provides a very reliable and good aesthetic outcome without the need for lengthening incisions around the defect and keeps the operative time short.
Using these advanced techniques, any scarring or disfigurement left in the skin tissue after Mohs surgery can be repaired or improved to achieve the best aesthetic result. During your consultation, Dr. Dedhia will discuss the pros and cons of each approach.
Skin Cancer Reconstruction recovery
Once Dr. Dedhia has finished performing the skin reconstruction surgery, it is important to take note of the post-surgery advice to ensure a smooth and timely recovery. For many patients, this involves staying out of the sun or harsh weather environments to allow time for the skin to heal. Part of the recovery process is scheduling follow-up appointments to ensure your healing is on track, and for Dr. Dedhia to monitor how your skin is adjusting to the surgery.
After you are released from our care that same day, you will be able to return home and rest in comfort. You will need a friend or family member to be able to drive you home, and possibly help you around the house for the next day or two. There will be some minor bruising and swelling, and potentially some pain immediately after surgery, but we will provide you with directions on how to alleviate any discomfort.
Any individual who is affected by skin cancer should have regular follow-ups with a Dermatologist experienced in skin cancer to watch carefully for cancer recurrence or the development of a new cancer. Dr. Dedhia will also have you return for regular follow-ups so he can closely monitor your healing process.
For any pain post-surgery, Dr. Dedhia can recommend over-the-counter pain medication, or prescribe stronger medication if it is needed.
The healing period for all incisions can take up to one year to be fully complete. Even after healing is complete, Dr. Dedhia may suggest other cosmetic procedures that will help optimize the outcome and minimize the appearance of scarring.
Skin Cancer Reconstruction cost
How much does Skin Cancer Reconstruction cost in San Francisco, CA?
The cost of Skin Cancer Reconstruction in San Francisco is determined by the extent of the skin cancer, the desired outcome, the specific techniques used, and the number of procedures necessary to meet your goals, among other things. The best way to find out how much the total cost is to come in for your initial consultation and let Dr. Dedhia create your surgical plan. Once made, our Patient Coordinator will be able to show you the price breakdown for your procedure.
Why choose Dr. Dedhia?
At Raj Dedhia MD Facial Plastic Surgery, you are sure to get patient care and excellence. Dr. Dedhia’s cosmetic surgery focuses on obtaining natural and long-lasting results. Dr. Dedhia believes each person is unique and provides a personalized treatment plan during each consultation. This should be your choice of practice for your Skin Cancer Reconstruction in San Francisco.
Dr. Raj Dedhia is a Double-Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face and neck. He has over 10 years of surgical experience, with a focus on rhinoplasty and facelift surgery. He is affiliated with the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS), American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS), American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).
Skin Cancer Reconstruction FAQ’S
Contact us
Schedule a consultation
Unlock your aesthetic possibilities with Dr. Raj Dedhia – schedule your consultation today for personalized insights and a tailored plan to achieve your beauty goals.