Should I be concerned about a numb forehead 2 weeks after Mohs? Is this normal? (Photos)

Question

Had Mohs on forehead to remove BCC (fairly small), incision was bigger than I expected. Stitches removed 4 days ago, forehead above incision is still completely numb.... should I be concerned?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Moh’s surgery on the face often requires surgical repair and reconstruction to reapproximate the skin edges. Flaps or direct closure techniques are used. It is important that you optimize scar healing during this phase in order to reduce longterm scars. For red scars, we use Vbeam laser, followed by fractional laser for scar topography and contour. We recommend Plato’s Scar Serum twice daily for the immediate postoperative period. Fractional laser is safe for scar laser therapy. 
There are treatments for swelling and edema of the scars. If there is residual sutures or edema, we advise you to follow a scar treatment protocol that can minimize the time to recovery. Our office specializes in scar revisions for Moh’s surgery. 
Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Kristine Romine, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Typically, during Mohs surgery, nerves are cut which leads to some, usually temporary, loss of sensation in the area. Nerves can regenerate for up to one year. The feeling, or lack of feeling, that you have in the area a year after your treatment is the feeling you are going to have from there afterward. Reaching out to your board certified Dermatologist who performed the procedure would be best as they are familiar with your case. Best wishes!

Breton Yates, MD · Answer

Great question. This is to be expected and is a common complaint from patients who've had reconstructive surgery on their forehead. During the reconstruction of Mohs defects, the surgeon will often orient the scar horizontally (relaxed tension lines) to hide the scar within the forehead lines. The sensory nerves of the forehead and frontal scalp originate from the eyebrows and travel up to the frontal scalp. A horizontal incision will transect these small sensory nerves leaving it numb above the scar. This numbness can be permanent but is usually temporary. This temporary numbness can last for  months to over year as the small sensory nerves are slow to re-grow. Hope this helps.

Should I be concerned about a numb forehead 2 weeks after Mohs? Is this normal? (Photos)

Answers (3)

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