Will MOHs surgery on the tip of the nose cause breathing difficulties?

Question

John Louis Ratz, MD · Answer

I read your question and had to think a bit before answering in a way that would not offend you. I'm assuming you have a basal cell carcinoma on your nasal tip. It is impossible to tell how deep and how wide this tumor has spread just by looking at the surface tumor. The greater the spread, the greater the damage to affected structures. Since removal of the tumor is essential because, left untreated, a tumor like this could eventually involve your entire nose, any difficulty you have after removal is a result of destruction by the tumor, not by the procedure removing it. Looking at it in this way puts the blame into its proper perspective. Mohs surgery is designed to remove all the tumor while sparing the greatest amount of normal tissue, and doing so up to 99% of the time. No other treatment modality even comes remotely close. While you have other treatment options, why would you settle for something with a much lower cure rate? Additionally, some treatments, like radiation therapy, not only can lead to some of the same problems as surgery once treatment is completed, but can also lead to skin cancer in the radiation treated area. I will say this, nasal tip tumors, in my experience of 38 years, rarely lead to breathing difficulties. But should you go on to have this removed and do develop breathing difficulties, don't blame it on the procedure used to remove the tumor, blame it on the tumor. I would also strongly suggest making sure that your Mohs surgeon is fellowship trained.

J. Daniel Jensen, MD · Answer

If the skin cancer is confined to the nasal tip and does not extend to the side of the nose near the ala (side of nostril) where it would affect the supportive cartilage and nasal valve, it is unlikely that Mohs surgery would affect one's breathing. That being said, it is often hard to predict how extensive a skin cancer will be, or what kind of repair (stitching) will be required to close the defect, especially in the absence of a photo. An experienced Mohs surgeon will be able to advise you as to the risk of nasal valve collapse prior to the repair of the defect. Best wishes-- Dr. Jensen

Will MOHs surgery on the tip of the nose cause breathing difficulties?

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Will MOHs surgery on the tip of the nose cause breathing difficulties?

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Everything you need to know about Mohs Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.