Reconstruction of the Nose Following Moh’s Surgery or Other Trauma
Do you have scarring or a deformity of the nose following Moh’s or other skin cancer surgery?
The nose occupies a central location on the face. Despite the best efforts of treating physicians, a patient may be left with a deformity after surgical treatment. Excision of skin cancer may cause scarring, asymmetry, or loss of tissue of the face. Accidents and trauma may also leave their mark. If you have suffered tissue loss or scarring, reconstructive surgery may be considered.
There are many techniques that may be considered in planning nasal reconstruction. During your consultation, Dr. Mendes will review your options with you. Dr. Mendes has extensive experience in nasal reconstructive surgery, both in the public realm treating Moh’s surgery patients, children and adults with cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial problems, and victims of trauma and accidents.
The Quick Facts
What Are We Treating: Nasal deformity, tissue loss
Goal of Treatment: This will be reviewed with you. Some patients desire a closed and healed wound. Other patients may want to restoring thaeir appearance to as close to normal as possible.
Duration of Treatment: Nasal reconstruction may require a series of operations, possibly including procedures performed under general anesthesia.
Return to Daily Activities: Depends on the needed technique. You will need to take some time off for recovery.
For a Winning result: Bring your medical records, operative reports, photographs, and X-rays to your initial consultation. Discuss your options with Dr. Mendes. It is important that you understand what is possible, and, together with Dr. Mendes, devis a plan that has a high probability of success.
how is it done?
In the upper regions of the nose the skin is somewhat loose. Closer to the tip, the skin is adherent and does not move. In order to reconstruct the lower part of the nose, Dr. Mendes “imports” tissue from other regions. Options include a skin graft, a local flap of tissue from the upper part of the nose, or in more extensive cases, flaps from the cheek or even the forehead, as the forehead skin most closely resembles nasal skin. These procedures may have to be done in multiple stages to allow precise contouring and sculpting of the tissues. Sometimes, cartilage grafts are used to give support to the tissues and maintain an open airway.