Bethesda Mohs Surgery doctors
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Chris Thiagarajah, MD
Washington DC Oculoplastic Surgeon
110 Irving St NW Suite 1A-01 301-277-4844, Washington |
10 answers | |
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Roberta Palestine, MD
Bethesda Dermatologist
6410 Rockledge Dr Ste 201, Bethesda |
Recent Answers
Nine months ago, I had Mohs surgery on my cheek (near my nose) for a very small Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC). I developed two lumps from the surgery: one is a dog ear, and the other is a large lump that was caused from tissue being pushed by the surgeon. I was just told that this large lump will "never go away." Is there anything that a plastic surgeon can do to remove or lessen the appearance of this lump? I was never told that this could be a result of this surgery.
The lumps after Mohs surgery have several treatment options
1. massage to soften them - this will take some time - 6 months to a year
2. Steroid injection to soften them - this may or may not work well
3. Scar revision - a procedure to minimize the lumps
Remember that you had cancer on your nose and this was being done to rid your face of it. The most important thing is that the cancer is gone. Mohs is done to maximize the cosmetic outcome but it is not guarantee that you will "look like nothing was done". It may take additional procedures to get you cosmetically back to normal. It is important to realize that these are cosmetic concerns which your insurance company may not cover.
I have a suspected BCC on my eyelid which was wrongly diagnosed as a recurrent infection. It bleeds occasionally. I am seeing a specialist in three days for a biopsy. If it is BCC will have Mohs Surgery and reconstruction. I estimate I might have had this for up to two years. I'm booked to go on holiday for three weeks shortly after the biopsy. Should I go or stay for the biopsy? I understand that can take two weeks anyway. Thanks!
If you are going on vacation and getting a biopsy beforehand it should be ok. The biopsy site should heal well on the eyelid and the results will take 1-2 weeks to get back. When you return if it is basal cell, you will have to coordinate the excision with a Mohs surgeon and oculoplastic surgeon which make take a couple weeks to get in both surgeons' schedules.
and when should you begin?
1. Tincture of time 6 months to 1 year
2. Massage sometimes softens scars
3. Scarguard has been shown to be helpful
4. Occasionally scars can be injected with steroid to reduce their appearance