MOHS Surgery on Aug. 5 - Asheville, NC

Yes this whole process is scary. However, seeing photos of an untreated basal skin cancer is much worse. If left alone it can be devastating.......maybe loosing the whole nose. I experienced the same as another post. It was a tiny red looking bump on the right nostril. After washing this spot a little layer or crust would reform over and over. I had this spot about 6 months before I went to the dermatologist. After a biopsy, which made the spot more visible, it was confirmed as basal cell cancer. On the face Mohs is the preferred treatment, as it is more accurate on removing all the cancer. Your dermatologist that is board certified in Mohs is also trained in the reconstructive part as well. One can work with a plastic surgeon, but I found it hard to find an easy reference for a plastic surgeon that does this, and not just cosmetic surgery. I chose to stay with my doctor for both procedures, which I believe is less stressful. After the initial surgery, I had to wait about an hour to determine if more layers would need to be removed. Fortunately, mine did not require any further removal. I then went back to the room for reconstruction. For less scaring, my doctor recommended a skin graft, removing skin/tissue next to my ear on the edge of my face. This was done on Aug. 5, and I am to return a week from this date to remove sutures. I have to wear a large bandage on my nose, changing twice daily. It is cleaned on edges with a half peroxide/water mix with q-tips, and then a seal of Vaseline on edge. Evidently, after this comes off and all looks well, I will still clean for 3 weeks and cover in smaller bandage/non-stick tefla. It says several other things on care sheet, but it takes about 6 weeks for skin graft to return to skin color. Another doctor that I spoke with on this treatment said that skin grafts can work beautifully, but you really must "baby" it and do everything right in taking care of it.
I am so early in to this, but so far so good. Depending on your work/career, the bandage can be distracting, and they recommend not lifting heavy objects, and doing any stressful, strength bearing work. I am glad that I had reconstructive work done at the time of surgery. I will post more after the suture removal.