Skin Cancer Reconstruction
Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is an advanced state-of the-art skin cancer treatment designed to remove cancerous skin cells from patients while leaving all healthy tissue intact. Mohs surgery is performed by specially trained dermatologic surgeons who exclusively perform skin cancer removal. These patients are then referred to facial plastic surgeons for reconstruction. Double board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. David Lieberman and Dr. Sachin Parikh, as well as board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Curti, perform skin cancer reconstruction at our Palo Alto office, with consultations available at our Los Gatos, CA, location, as well.
Mohs surgery is extremely effective for all skin cancers, and is especially valuable for recurrent or aggressive carcinomas. Because it conserves the maximum amount of healthy tissue, Mohs is ideal for treatment of cosmetically important areas such as the nose, eyelids and lips, and for high risk and invasive lesions (such as near a facial nerve). Mohs surgery is now frequently used to remove basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and other skin lesions on the face.
Every person is our top priority
Trust Your Beauty To An Award-Winning Team of Aesthetic Experts
America’s Best Plastic Surgeons by Newsweek, 2024
Best Plastic Surgeons by Palo Alto Weekly, 2024
Best of Silicon Valley Magazine for Plastic Surgery, 2024
Castle Connolly Top Doctors of San Francisco Bay Area, 2024
New Beauty Top Doctors, 2024
What to Expect During the Procedure
During the surgery to remove the skin cancer, small layers of skin cancer tissue are meticulously removed. The Mohs surgeon examines the tissue under a microscope for cancerous cells. Mohs surgeons remove thin layers of skin in an incremental manner so all cancerous tissue is excised, and the maximum amount of healthy tissue is spared. Mohs surgery offers both the lowest recurrence rate of malignant lesions, and maximum preservation of normal, healthy tissue.
After a malignant lesion is removed with Mohs surgery, a depression or hole in the skin is present. Such scars may be rather disfiguring, and reconstructive surgery may be performed immediately after Mohs surgery to repair the damaged site. We specialize in carefully reconstructing the facial tissue in such patients, restoring their natural appearance while preserving form and function of important structures of the face. We work closely with a number of Mohs surgeons in the area to offer a highly specialized service. Our goal is to create a seamless transition from skin cancer removal to unparalleled reconstruction so that patients are cared for at each step of this process.
Why L&P and am I a candidate for skin cancer reconstruction?
Skin cancer occurs most commonly on the face, and frequently develops on the nose. Many times the Mohs surgeon removing the skin lesion will be able to reconstruct the area at the time of the initial procedure. Depending on the size, the complexity, and the location of the resection, your Mohs surgeon may elect to have a facial plastic surgery reconstructive specialist assist in your treatment.
Even skin lesions that appear very small initially, can involve large areas of normal looking skin. Many Mohs surgeons can anticipate the need for a reconstructive specialist prior to removal of the skin cancer, especially if the skin cancer is in cosmetically sensitive areas such as the lip, eyelid, nose or ears. In that case, you will have a formal consultation with us before your Mohs surgery to discuss all reconstructive options.
Skin Cancer Reconstruction Before and After Gallery
View real results from real patients below.
Recovery and Beyond
For most patients, after your Mohs surgery is completed, the Mohs surgeon will bandage the wound and direct you to our offices for a consultation. We strive to offer same day service. At your post-procedure consultation, the defect is assessed, and all options for reconstruction will be discussed in detail.
Skin Cancer Reconstruction FAQs
Most defects can be repaired with skin flaps. A skin flap utilizes local redundant tissue to cover the Mohs defect. Sometimes, a skin graft will be utilized for reconstruction. A skin graft involves removing a piece of skin from a donor site (e.g. back of the ear or above the clavicle) and then sewing it into the Mohs defect.
Sometimes more of a complex or multiple staged reconstruction is required. This depends on the amount of tissue that is removed and whether other tissue such as cartilage and bone must be reconstructed and replaced. We specialize in these more complex surgeries. Whether you have a flap or a graft, evaluation for possible further refinement is performed at approximately the sixth post-operative week.
takes anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours depending on the complexity of the surgery. We are experienced in Mohs reconstructive surgery under local anesthesia, thus patients frequently can avoid a trip to the hospital operating room or surgery center. Patients go home the same day and return typically three to five days after surgery for suture removal.
