Mohs Skin Cancer Reconstruction Surgery
For your health and well-being, it is important to detect, diagnose, and treat skin cancer as early and thoroughly as possible. When skin cancers require surgical removal, the repair and healing of the resulting wound can be a significant concern for patients, especially when a large quantity of tissue is affected. Removal of any type or size of cancerous lesion from the skin has the potential to leave cosmetic imperfections; however surgical removal methods, like Mohs surgery, and reconstructive techniques can be combined to both minimize and repair residual skin damage.
About Skin Cancer
Skin cancer, the most prevalent form of cancer in the United States, is often attributed to unprotected sun exposure. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer and can cause visible damage to the skin, with about 2.8 million newly diagnosed cases each year. Although basal cell carcinoma rarely spreads beyond its area of origin, it can be very dangerous if left untreated. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of this disease, and patients with this type of skin cancer have a significantly increased chance of developing even more serious health concerns. SCC can metastasize to internal organs and lymph nodes, leading to a life-threatening condition. Malignant melanoma is considered to be the most dangerous type of skin cancer, and early treatment is necessary to reduce the risk of it spreading to other areas of the body. If you have been diagnosed with any type of skin cancer it is important to address it with swift and effective treatment.
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Our board-certified plastic surgeon, Kevin Cook, MD is highly skilled in reconstructive procedures such as repair and precision wound-closure techniques for Mohs skin cancer surgery patients. If you are planning to undergo Mohs surgery and would like to learn more about reconstructive surgical techniques that may help preserve your appearance after skin cancer removal, contact Midland Plastic Surgery Center to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cook.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Reconstruction
Mohs micrographic surgery is often recommended for removal of certain types of skin cancers due to the procedure’s extremely high success rate. During this surgery, a dermatologist excises compromised layers of tissue and microscopically examines the surrounding areas for cancerous cells. This process continues until there are no cancer more cells detected. At this point, the dermatologist turns the surgery over to Dr. Cook who then assesses the wound and devises a reconstructive strategy for restoring the most natural-looking appearance possible.
It is important to note that before beginning Mohs surgery, your dermatologist will not know the precise extent of your skin cancer. Only a small portion of the entire lesion may be visible at the surface of the skin, which means the nature of the resulting wound can be relatively unknown before surgery. For this reason, it is prudent to have a skilled reconstructive cosmetic surgeon like Dr. Cook on hand to address the final phases of surgery. Dr. Cook’s training and experience in reconstructive surgery makes him uniquely qualified to treat virtually any size or type of wound that may result from skin cancer removal.
