Is There a Method of Closing a Major Wound to the Nose Using, for Example, a "Silly Putty" Rather Than Skin?

My mother is 97 and in excellent health other than some dementia. She also has basil cell which has eaten away an entire nostril. It is wide open and I would guess a perfect target for infection. We were advised against surgery since symptoms began, due to her advanced age and I doubt she could survive what appears to be extensive surgery now. Is there a way to cover and secure the site from infection? Unfortunately there are no available pictures.

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2 Doctor Answers | Asked by barrye

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Nasal wound closure

Unfortunately I dont see another option for this closure other than a skin graft.This should be easily done under local anesthesia.

Alternative Wound closure/care

#next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Dear Barry A frustrating problem. I have a couple thoughts: Under light sedation and local anesthesia a good surgeon should be able to completely remove the cancer and then place a skin graft over the wound. The other option is to use Alloderm which is an acellular product made from cadaver skin that would at least give a good covering to the surgical defect... more