Great to find this page with comments. I have just undergone surgery for bcc tip of nose (9 days ago) Had full thickness skin graft from neck to nose. Depth 5mm (sorry we aren't imperial measure anymore in Oz) and covered an area of a man's thumb print on my nose removed. All under GA with surgery from plastic surgeon. Wonderful bed side care at private day surgery - (all worth the expense). I woke up and it was all over.
Given excellent verbal debriefing with husband before leaving clinic and written instructions with Surgeon's direct mobile if t any issues (infection, bleeding etc). All care was taken that I did not feel any stress or physical pain before during and as much as possible, after. I had a large area removed and would take at least 12 months till end result.
I'm not 100% sure that the graft has completely taken, I'm just going by the fact that he took the stitches out and dressed the area again, but I know grafts this size can take time. Next visit he said that generally his nurse takes off final dressing, but to make an appointment so that he would do that. Physically, I know when I look down to my nose, after the nasal bone the last half of flesh is not there (the divot is that large) but at this stage I am very glad cancer is gone. I might add, that this all began as a small lesion less than grain of rice. I noticed for a year it would come go bleed. While it appeared the skin was healing above, the bcc was spreading larger below. If anyone is reading has this type of lesion, please please have it checked out by specialists.
All up costs consult f/ups, surgery,anaesthetist, $A2,700 after medical rebates.
Recent comments
Posted to Waiting for Mohs Surgery After Unexpected Discovery of Bcc on Skin Fold Upper Right Lip - Melbourne, Australia on 6 Sep 2011
Given excellent verbal debriefing with husband before leaving clinic and written instructions with Surgeon's direct mobile if t any issues (infection, bleeding etc). All care was taken that I did not feel any stress or physical pain before during and as much as possible, after. I had a large area removed and would take at least 12 months till end result.
I'm not 100% sure that the graft has completely taken, I'm just going by the fact that he took the stitches out and dressed the area again, but I know grafts this size can take time. Next visit he said that generally his nurse takes off final dressing, but to make an appointment so that he would do that. Physically, I know when I look down to my nose, after the nasal bone the last half of flesh is not there (the divot is that large) but at this stage I am very glad cancer is gone. I might add, that this all began as a small lesion less than grain of rice. I noticed for a year it would come go bleed. While it appeared the skin was healing above, the bcc was spreading larger below. If anyone is reading has this type of lesion, please please have it checked out by specialists.
All up costs consult f/ups, surgery,anaesthetist, $A2,700 after medical rebates.