Scarsdale Mohs Surgery doctors
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Jessica J. Krant, MD, MPH
Manhattan Dermatologic Surgeon
860 Fifth Avenue Ground Floor, New York |
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10 answers |
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Michael H. Rosenberg, MD
White Plains Plastic Surgeon
3010 Westchester Ave Suite 201, Purchase |
Recent Answers
Is Mohs surgery the best option or the gold standard for re-excision of a rather small (2x2x2 cm at primary removal) DFSP on the back?
Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP) is an invasive and difficult tumor to remove. It is best to treat it with respect and first perform Mohs surgery with a qualified and very experienced Mohs surgeon, and then follow the Mohs clear margins with one extra layer to be processed for permanent sections with special stains at an outside lab, for definitive clearance.
What can I expect after Moh's surgery if I let the scar heal on its own? I was told by a plastic surgeon that I could let it heal on its own, do a skin graft or nasal flap. I am curious as to how the body would heal on its own and what would the results look like? Because of large pores on my nose, I am afraid a skin graft would be very obvious. If it healed on its own, would it be more likely to match the adjacent skin? I am 84 years old and feel a nasal flap is too much surgery.
If the Mohs surgery location on your nose is in the concave part on the side just above your nostril, this is an excellent location for healing by itself (also known as healing by secondary intention, or granulation). Your Mohs surgeon or plastic surgeon should evaluate whether letting the wound heal this way might cause collapse of the nostril when you try to breathe in through your nose. If there is no risk of collapse, and you don't feel like more surgery, I think allowing it to heal is a fine option, as long as you understand it can take longer and still requires wound care until healed.
From what I have read, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tends to be slow growing. What exactly does that mean? I am 43 years old and have a BCC located just below my nose and scheduled for Mohs surgery on Tuesday. I have had the BCC for at least 5 years, probably longer. My surgeon tells me that there is no way to know how much tissue will be removed until surgery. Immediately following the Mohs surgery, I will see a plastic surgeon to repair the wound. My bcc is pink slightly elevated with a rolled border and a crusted indentation in the center. When i went to the dermatologist, he knew right away just from looking at it that it was a BCC, biopsy confirmed. Do they grow at a certain rate? I just want to be prepared. Any information will be helpful.
It is true that basal cell carcinoma has a relatively slower growth rate than other skin cancers, but it is still cancer, meaning that it will continue to grow and be destructive. After a long period of neglect, it might even attach to a local nerve or blood vessel and risk spread to deeper tissues or other parts of the body.
The location under your nose may mean that while your Mohs surgeon can remove all of the tumor cells with 99% accuracy or greater, it could be a complex area to repair anatomically, so going to a plastic surgeon can be a good option for a nice repair.
It sounds like you are in good hands, and no matter how much the basal cell has grown, it will be gone. The fact that it was an obvious BCC with a predictable shape and appearance, is a sign in your favor that it may have very well-defined borders and be easy for the Mohs surgeon to remove. Good luck!
