Sarasota Dermatologists

I Am 49 Years Old. Diagnosed with BCC on Bridge of Nose, What's Best for Least Scarring?

Skin cancer specialist advised marginally removing BCC, send me home with a hole in my nose, back next day, if biopsy ok, wound closed like an icecream cone, extending down the side of the nose and zig zag up between the eyes. This allows the skin edges to be drawn together. The plastic surgeon said that he would remove skin from my check and graft it to my nose. I see a dermatologist re MOHS surgery next week. For the least scaring, what's best?

Mohs surgery is the best choice for skin cancer on the nose - it has the highest cure rate for the treatment of skin cancer -- up to a 95 -99 % cure rate.

In addition Mohs conserves as much normal tissue as possible as the Mohs technique examines 100% of the tissue margins -- all the lateral (wide) margins and the deep margin (the base) are examined. 

I recommend a fellowship trained Mohs surgeon with (American College of Mohs Surgery).  Also the Mohs surgeon not only performs your surgery, but also examines your tissue under the microscope.  The type of repair and the size of the scar will depend on how much tissue was taken.  I wish you the best of luck.

Elizabeth F. Callahan, MD

Sarasota Dermatologist

How Do I Successfully Choose Between Various Injectable Dermal Fillers Such As Juvederm or Restylane?

What is the most cost-effective method? (Juvederm or Restylane?)

I agree with all the prior posts - Pick an expert injector to start --  Go to their website and look at their training - then go to the individual product websites and you will find that some of the companies will list "expert injectors" - for doctors who have injected many patients or who are "official trainers" for the company -  Then at consultation show your doctor your areas of concern -- each filler has subtle differences and really can be considered "paint brushes in the artist's toolbox" -  Let your expert injector pick the right filler for you.

Elizabeth F. Callahan, MD

Sarasota Dermatologist

What are The Benefits to Using Botox at a Younger Age?

Are there studies that show Botox will prevent deep wrinkles if patients start using it sooner?

My clinical experience has demonstrated that Botox (all nueromodulators) do help to prevent fine lines and wrinkles over time -- If you relax the muscles, they don't have the opportunity to contract and affect the skin surface --

Several years ago there was an interesting study in a Plastics journal that showed photos of one identical twin set - one twin had used Botox regularly for years, and the other twin had never used it.  There was a remarkable difference between the two pictures. 

Elizabeth F. Callahan, MD

Sarasota Dermatologist