I would recommend Juvederm Voluma to add volume to sunken cheeks, as opposed to another hyaluronic acid filler. Voluma's chemical makeup makes it the best HA filler to really lift your cheeks. You will see it immediately and likely say "wow" when you look in the mirror. Another option would be Sculptra which would take longer to see similar results.With aging, volume is lost in the mid face which make the cheeks appear flat and produces nasolabial folds. This can make you appear tired and older than you feel. Voluma injected into the appropriate areas of the cheeks will immediately take years off and make you look refreshed. It's almost painless, takes 10-30 minutes and has minimal downtime (few pinpoint bruises if any). It typically improves the nasolabial folds and tear troughs at the same time.
Recovery after your Mohs procedure depends on the location of your cancer, the extent of the cancer, the size of the surgical defect, and the type of reconstruction that was performed to repair your surgical defect. For example, a 1 cm defect on your cheek in front of your ear that was repaired with a linear closure may feel sore or throb the night after surgery but should feel fine the day afterwards. A big cancer on your forehead that needed a large flap will likely cause bruising and swelling around your eyes that may last a week and give you a major headache that night. You may need pain medication in that case. The actual Mohs procedure uses precise microscopic margin control to remove your cancer with the best cure rate and the most narrow margins. Once the cancer is out, your Mohs surgeon will discuss the best repair option for you...this should give you the best cosmetic result and take into account your lifestyle and ability to care for your wound. You should leave with specific directions about how to care for your wound, what you will need, and emergency contact information for the physician. Most facial repairs will throb a bit the night after surgery and leave some swelling and/or bruising around the incision site. Any repair above the eyebrows will likely give you a black eye or two. Sutures are typically removed in 7 days and the scar will settle and mature and fade over the next 3-12 months. Repairs on the trunk and extremities may feel tighter, can also cause bruising and swelling and may require you to remain inactive while sutures are in place, about 2 weeks. Repairs on the leg are more likely to open up and become infected without the proper wound care and can take the longest to heal. I like to see all my surgical patients 3 months post to make sure we are both happy with the outcome of the repair and see if any "tweaks" need to be done. I expect that at 3 months, most scars will have flattened out and be a little pink. That discoloration typically fades over the next few months and the scar should just blend and not be noticeable. It is important to have a trusting relationship with your surgeon, open communication, realistic expectations, and patience.
