Cartilage pushing towards the surface due to thin skin after Mohs. Is surgery my only option? (Photo)

Question

Had Mohs surgery a year ago; after healing well for several months, developed a white-ish bump near tip of my nose. Went back to Mohs surgeon and she thinks its cartilage pushing towards the surface due to thinner skin at surgical site. She's referred me to a plastic surgeon and suggested I might need a flap or skin graft, and possibly taking some cartilage from upper nose to create more cartilage support at nose tip. Yikes. Might there be other options?

Joel L. Cohen, MD · Answer

Cartilage placed in a Mohs repair can reposition over time (and thus become more visible superficially under the skin) or just push on the skin (like a tent pole pushing on a canvas tent) &mdash; so sometimes we make a small incision in the skin and trim the part that has become superficial. But if a while strip of cartilage is pushing, then more of an incision will need to be made.

Cartilage pushing towards the surface due to thin skin after Mohs. Is surgery my only option? (Photo)

Answers (1)