16 Days Post MOHS Surgery/reconstruction - to Cover or Not to Cover?

A skin graft from behind my ear was used after MOHS surgery to remove BCC - The oculop. surgeon who did the reconstruction has told me to keep Vaseline on it but not cover it. MOHS surgeon today told me to keep it covered with a band aid and lots of Vaseline. What should I do? Does it look normal for 16 days?Also, a portion of the graft at the top has detached and is "dented in" which the doctor told me to keep Vaseline on and let it heal by secondary intention..will it heal dented in?

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3 Doctor Answers | Asked by fdamico1985

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16 days post skin graft

Each situation is unique and only your surgeon knows the specific details of your procedure and should be the person commenting on post-operative questions such as this

Sam Naficy, MD

80 reviews

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattleface.com

Wound Healing and Whether to Cover or Not Cover a Wound

As a general rule, if a wound is not completely healed, keeping it covered with an antibiotic or bland ointment (e.g. Vaseline, Aquaphor, Polysporin) is a good idea. The wound produces various factors in the fluid of the wound that stimulate wound healing. Allowing the wound to dry out or "scab up" removes these factors and the wound heals more slowly and with greater difficulty. As a general rule, I have patients keep the wound moist with an antibiotic salve and cover it with a... more

Healing after excision (Mohs surgery)

Skin grafts require a complete blood supply to "take" and live. Sometimes for a variety of reasons there is some compromise of the blood supply and the grafts don't completely take. It is not necessarily an all or nothing phenomenon and the graft may be partially taken. In many cases, the wound is allowed to heal and then decisions about whether any further touchups or surgery may be helpful can be made. Revisions down the road can involve further... more