Reconstruction After Mohs Surgery | Amber's Story

Mohs surgery for the removal of squamous cell carcinoma left Amber with a large wound on her face. Willing to travel anywhere for the best facial plastic and reconstruction surgeon, Amber found Lisa Ishii, M.D., at Johns Hopkins to repair her cheek and is delighted with the outcome. Learn more: www.hopkinsmedi...

[@tracyOzz33]

I've had a very aggressive Basel cell Carcinoma on my right upper cheek, I had 3 Mohs surgeries with skin grafts from my arm and behind my ear.. I had it for soo long without being diagnosed. It was growing inward into my optic nerve and they fear it would reach my brain and eventually dying. They were about to remove my eye at 35 years old! We consulted with a radiation Dr and she believed she could treat me. I had Radiation done 5x a week for 3 months. I had the MRI and CT scan come back as mass is no longer seen. I have had this Cancer for soo long and had it come back over and over again. This radiation is a trial and I risk it coming back. I can't belive it's gone since I've been told before it's gone only to have it come back. I struggle with my appearance I wear my scars on my face. I have an amazing support group at home. And I am learning to live my life after Cancer. 🙏🌻 I hope I have a long journey. 🙏 I'm not done living yett

[@ljre3397]

OMG what a heartbreaking story. I’m so sorry. I hope you’re finally rid of that monster. Good luck to you.

[@Mechaneer]

I'm doing this too in a 5 days. I just had Mohs done a week ago. They will need donor tissue for mine though because mine is bigger, about the size of a golf ball in radius. I'm glad yours turned out so great! Wish me luck with mine! :)

[@jamilgotcher365]

Hope everything went well with your Moh's surgery.

[@Mechaneer]

@@jamilgotcher365 it turned out great! Thanks! The surgeon ended up not needing donor tissue because my skin is abnormally flexible. Instead, he cut into my hairline a little bit and sealed it up with a "flap" technique.

[@spidyr2k]

Congratz on a successful recovery and also for having the financial resources to pursue appropriate treatment.

[@shereehi5539]

That's a messed up thing to say. So the ones who are poor can just die? Ew

[@spidyr2k]

@@shereehi5539 Sarcasm, my dear. It is tragic that in the wealthiest nation to ever exist, access to medical treatment is a privilege, and not a right.

[@shereehi5539]

@@spidyr2k glad you agree Your sarcasm is super serious😫

[@stirfry6646]

@@shereehi5539 Seems @spidyr2k was referring to the aftercare cosmetic procedure to reduce the appearance of the scar which is not covered by insurance. The patient must pay for that out-of-pocket and that takes financial resources. I am seeing costs of $2,500 for scar revision which is a significant amount of money to most people. Have a nice day.

[@shawn1869]

Thank you for sharing. They found a mucinous carcinoma in the corner of my lower eyelid. Presented as a small bump as well almost like a pimple. Having mohs then reconstruction on the same day by different doctors. I prayed about it and I'm at peace.

[@FendergtrJam]

I had mohs also there was this tiny looking little spot at the top part of my nose almost at eye level. Dr.Borienstien and a Mohs Surgeon got it the first try But it needed a plastic surgeon's specialty stitching. So that little tiny spot was the size of a quarter open wound they Bandaged me up and sent me off to see the Plastic Surgeon. Witch was just around the corner from my house Both practices in Palm Beach Gardens Fl. It's funny now but not at the time his stitch actually gave me a nose lift and barely see a mark. Thank God for Mohs , Dermatologists And Plastic Surgeons. Now I just this morning got my lab results back over the phone while sipping coffee the nurse said I need Mohs surgery on my lower lip. Test came back Squamous cell carcinoma, my one on my nose was Basel cell carcinoma wish me luck abit nervous about it.🤞👍😎

[@heatherwoods1233]

Its weird where hope pops up, I'm glad I watched thus. I found out 2 days ago that I have the worst type of carcinoma too. It's on the left side of my nose and so close to my eye, I need a 2 day procedure because I'll need an eye surgeon to repair the eye ligament because there's no way to remove the cancer without cutting that ligament. And it's grown into my sinuses too. I'm scheduled for the procedures on Sept 28 and 29 of this year, 2023.

[@livelovelocalmi]

I hope this went well for you. ❤

[@rosi...000]

I just had MOHS and closure with plastics, mine was rare malignant BASOSQUAMOUS,, entire cheek removed. My scar is huge looks like a Z, I am only 6 days out from surgery. Thank you for posting this video.

[@tp31170]

I am so sorry that you went through that, just sending you good vibes, I wish I had words to say, just know that I'm thinking about you.

[@CJ_18]

I hope you are doing well and it is all gone.

[@americansweetheart5597]

The 'getting red then flattening out' part is so true. I've never seen that symptom anywhere else.

[@stirfry6646]

Johns Hopkins Medicine: What was done to reduce the scar? That was not explained. A friend just had Mohs surgery for BCC on cheek about 1/2 from nostril. The Dermatologist ended up suturing her above that about an inch and down her face about two inches so that it did not pull on the wound nor make her face asymmetrical. This was never discussed with the Dermatologist beforehand nor did we find anything about this in our research prior to the procedure; just an array of photos of the wounds then viola...completely healed. Once she was in the chair, there was no turning back. Hers will leave a nasty scar and cosmetic procedures to reduce that are not covered by insurance and that is after having to live with it for at least a year before having it revised.

[@imsoneworleans5047]

I was just diagnosed with this cancer scc on my face and I'm so nervous and scared I have to do chemotherapy and radiation my heart is crushed

[@JuanSanchez-ik7wx]

About 5 years ago, I went in for mohs procedure. I was in the chair for 8 hours. It was the size of a quarter and the surgeon stopped when he got 1 inch deep due to the known location of the main nerve on that side of my face. He wasnt able to get it all out. He cut a slab of tissue from my chest and sewed me up. I honestly think he used more than 100 stitches. But I will never know. Stitch time was around 1 hour. I had to wear a bandage for month. I was sent to radiation immediately after the procedure. In hind sight, I probably should not have waited 6 weeks before getting zapped by radiation. Between the graft and the radiation, I had a nasty scar on my temple, and it was more brown than pink. I have no way of knowing if the cancer has returned at this point. My recommendation is to bypass the mohs and go straight to radiation if the tumor had been there for more than a year, like mine. Save yourself the money for a mohs procedure that wasnt able to remove all of the tumor. Ask your doctor is there is any underlying nerves beneath the tumor. If the answer is no, then go with the mohs. If the answer is yes, then go for the radiation.

[@davidanderson8469]

Radiation has it's own pitfalls. Good luck. The doc knows best. I wish a laser technique would come out. I wear a wide brimmed hat everywhere I go. I've neve had chemo.

[@lindamastropietro4429]

What a great, enthusiastic doctor

[@JWP452]

A doctor gave you chemotherapy for skin cancer when the whole point of Mohs surgery is to cut it out? That's odd. But the reconstruction is great. Congratulations!

[@Vika-se5mc]

Jim W I was thinking exactly the same thing.

[@tomcat6933]

You use flourouricil which is a topical chemotherapy you apply yourself. Doesn't really work on squamous cell carcinoma and may work on some forms of basal cell carcinoma. Moh's surgey is the most effective treatment at about 97% success rate. Unfortunately if you get squamous cell your odds of developing in other areas are high. She had a very small area cut out meaning she caught it early.

[@lidstar646]

Beautiful! I am very happy for you! God bless you!

[@marissah4639]

The chemotherapy is a cream and it’s used to field treat patients who have a lot of actinic keratoses (also known as “precancerous lesions” or “precancers”). These are rough spots on the skin caused by chronic sun damage. Left untreated, some have the potential to develop into skin cancer. There’s usually several of them, and some people are completely covered in them. When it’s a few, we just freeze them with liquid nitrogen, and scrape them off with a curette. That usually gets rid of them. Sometimes they will be biopsied under the suspicion of something else, which also usually gets rid of them. But- if someone has a skin cancer, it’s usually in one area, and if it’s on the face they’ll have a Mohs procedure, which will completely remove the cancer. This doesn’t necessarily remove any of the precancers. That’s why she would have to do the topical chemo cream, otherwise she would be sitting in a dermatologists clinic all day being frozen with liquid nitrogen, which doesn’t get every single lesion the way the cream would. Hope that helped!

[@davidanderson8469]

I've had 20 removed on my legs but never had chemotherapy. I take Niacinamide 500mg x 2 daily. It's been proven to lower lesion occurrences by about 15%. I hope it slows them down.

[@ljre3397]

I know this is 5 years old but I wonder where this woman is now. How about a follow up?

[@ChicagoRob2]

Had IG-SRT on a large BCC on my forehead. No cuts, marks, or scar.

[@Kerbeygrip]

I had two around my right eye. I just got on with it. I had to really press on protection from here on a in though. No visible scars as the plastic surgeon did the surgery to start with.

[@lisagoolsby3791]

I don't know if I'll get an answer but here goes. Why did she have chemotherapy? I was diagnosed too with same type of skin cancer but nothing has been said about chemotherapy. I'm just having MOHS. What is the reason for tnis?

[@quinnkaurich7937]

Lisa Goolsby I work closely with a dermatologist trained in MOHS surgery and he has never mentioned anyone going through chemotherapy for this type of skin cancer. It is extremely rare for this type of skin cancer to spread to other parts of the body and is therefore not very dangerous at all. Basically the only reason it is important to have this cancer removed is because it can spread on a person’s face and not look the best.

[@lisagoolsby3791]

@@quinnkaurich7937 thank you for your reply I appreciate it. But I still wonder why she had chemotherapy. I'm wondering if she was just confused at what type of cancer she had. Anyhow moving on!

[@tp31170]

I work in oncology, I suspect the doctor chose chemotherapy based on the type of cancer that it was. Had it been basal-cell, or squamous cell, they might have just done the Mohs surgery then, but perhaps didn't want to scar her unnecessarily if chemo had worked for her. Again, that's just an observation.

[@TheTha411]

@@quinnkaurich7937 I'm getting one removed under my lip on the 31st. They took the lesion out a few weeks ago but Cancer cells were found in the bottom of what they took. I had a plastic surgeon do and he avoided the cutting into the muscle until the lesion had a biopsy done. For the surgery I will be put under. Takes an hour. Then they skin graft. Said nothing about chemo. Just said I will probably have muscle loss permanently in that area. There isn't chemo lol. It's a localized tumor.

[@quinnkaurich7937]

@@Pantherlynn to my understanding, and based on conversations I’ve had with the dermatologists I’ve worked for, it is incredibly rare for basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma to spread beyond the initial site and cause death. Melanoma, on the other hand, is a comparatively more dangerous and deadly type of skin cancer. Personally, I would still have the basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma removed if I had one. These can spread on the skin at the initial site, become quite large, and therefore unsightly/disfiguring

[@thatclover123]

I’m going thru this, so scary

[@donnabrown4349]

Me too. I just had Mohs on my nose 2 days ago.

[@tp31170]

I just found out today that I have to go through two of these surgeries on my face, and people around me don't seem to understand the devastation that I feel. I had another Mohs procedure done on my chest 2 years ago and it's still healing, and still gives me many problems. I can't imagine having these scars on my face for the rest of my life. The one on my chest took 2 years before it was actually flush with the rest of my skin again. They left the stitches in, because that was what they said I should do, and they constantly get inflamed.

[@shawn1869]

Any update as to how everything went? Just curious as I'm kind of going through the same. Thanks!!

[@thatclover123]

@@shawn1869 hi! I had two mohs. One pass on the forehead, the cheek was worse. Cancer was from my eye all the way down to my lips. Had multiple passes. Had a huge earthworm raised scar for an entire year but left it alone. One and a half years later you can barely see the scars. The face heals amazing! Best of luck to you and big hugs ❤️

[@shawn1869]

@@thatclover123 ohhhh im so happy that u are doing well. Its definitely a shocker. Thank you for responding, i wish you the best!

[@polkprincess2714]

After Mohs did you have to seek out plastic surgeon on your own or did they send you there?

[@philtain3331]

I have additional questions why a mohs surgery I had done recently on my forehead by the scalp that left a 4.9 x5.6 hole after excision was not closed by stitching or partial stitching

[@tp31170]

Sounds like a lawsuit, I would sue. Of course they should do something to help you. That ridiculous! Get a lawyer!

[@CT-ip5oe]

@@tp31170 Dont listen to this idiot. Many times healing in naturally looks amazing and much better than a skin graft which would look like a big patch. A flap that size would have required extensive cutting across the face and left more scarring. Hopefully you healed well.

[@CT-ip5oe]

Dont listen to this idiot. Many times healing in naturally looks amazing and much better than a skin graft which would look like a big patch. A flap that size would have required extensive cutting across the face and left more scarring. Hopefully you healed well...2nd-Why don't you ask the doctor rather than uninformed KZbin people.

[@HJC1950]

I also got sunburns as a child, on the southern exposure beaches of Long Island. Basal Cell number nine will be removed next week...Momma's don't let your kids get sunburned...and grow up to have skin cancers...

[@lilysgram5886]

Harold Clark I grew up by Jones Beach and am very fair skinned, blue eyed woman. Just diagnosed with Melanoma on my leg. I also have invasive squamous cell carcinoma on my hand. It’s very scary hearing you have skin cancer.

[@aderi31415]

I'm from coastal NC, like Amber, and I couldn't tell you how many times my skin blistered over from sunburn. Just this morning, the dermatologist said, "That's almost definitely BCC, we'll schedule the surgery after the pathologist confirms it."

[@HJC1950]

@@aderi31415 My first BCC was a shock and upsetting. After 9 of them, spread out over 20 years, it is no longer a huge deal. But here in New York, my May 18th spot check with my new dermatologist was put off to "sometime in July." I'm still waiting for them to call me back to confirm that I will be seen in July...

[@shawn1869]

@@HJC1950 hi Harold, how long does it take to heal from a mohs procedure? Do you think a month is enough time to heal?

[@HJC1950]

@@shawn1869 Yes, a month should be enough time. I had a basal cell on my forehead and had it removed by a Mohs surgeon. I remember I could not ride my motorcycle for a month because the swelling at the site made it painful to wear a helmet. Other sites did not cause any problems.

[@alinaandreeacucu4982]

I had basal cell carcinoma on my nose 8 months ago, 35 years old and i did the surgery after 8 months, please don't wait that much, every day matters. I didn't do chemoterapy thank God. Is everyone here who have some advice on skin care after surgery? Thanks

[@marissah4639]

I work in dermatology! Silicone tape like Mepitac tape is a great product for minimizing the visibility of scars. It works best if you apply as soon as you get your stitches out, and you have to be consistent with applying it, but it does work! Ideally it would be applied 23 hours per day, as soon as you get your stitches out, for 4-12 weeks. If 23 hours a day is too much, you could also do just overnight applications, but it may take longer to see results. For older scars, you’ll have to apply it longer than 4-12 weeks, and unfortunately I’m not sure for how long, but I can tell you that I myself have used it on stretch marks and it made them start to fade in about 3 months of consistent use. You can also do “scar molding” by gently massaging the scar with bio-oil, but you have to be very consistent with that, too. Retinols and micro needling are other options for minimizing scarring after surgery but that’s something you’d have to talk more about with a dermatologist 😅

[@marissah4639]

As far as general skin care goes, just remember to use a gentle face wash like cetaphil or cerave, moisturize, and WEAR SUNSCREEN SPF 30 OR HIGHER. Also now that you’ve had skin cancer, you’re at a higher risk of developing more, so stay on top of your skin exams done by yourself and by your dermatologist. Keep an eye out for new, tender, bleeding, not healing lesions on your body, and new, flat, black, or irregular moles. Start taking 2 niacinimide capsules every day, as it lowers your risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer!

[@justthetwoofus1485]

Thank you. I'm going for the Mohs surgery on Wednesday. The cancer is on my nose. I'm so worried.

[@nikkim4016]

Good luck to you, I'm 4 weeks post op for MOHS on my nose, I had skin graft from my cheek, so far so good.

[@donnabrown4349]

@@nikkim4016 Did you have a lot of pain? I had Mohs on my nose 2 days ago and it really hurts.

[@nikkim4016]

Donna Brown Sorry to heat that , it wasn’t until afterwards that I was told the nose was a particularly sensitive part of the face to treat hence the pain . Take pain relief up to the max dose if required . It should settle down soon and if not please see a health care professional or call the mohs department for advice. All the best to you, it will be better soon , hugs xx

[@donnabrown4349]

@@nikkim4016 I am finally feeling much better today.

[@nikkim4016]

@@donnabrown4349 Hi Donna, I'm so pleased and hope you continue to feel much better as the days pass. x

[@vickimingus9281]

I had this on y chin a month ago. My chin went deep 4 cuttings and about a 3/4 inch hole. Wilmington. So I have a 3 inch incision

[@retiredat44]

I have the squamous cell cancer by my eye on temple... I have basal cell 2 years ago. The VA stopped caring like they said they would, with my pancreatic disease. The va is more focused on the phony paper masks and keeping sick vets from being at the hospital and stopped taking so many patients over the years...they are also always taking pain meds away I have suffered with spinal disease and necrotizing pancreatitis for decades. I had a heart attack last year. Now with this cancer, i know they will cut me up again. Actually the VA has been sending me to community care, the VA doctors totally missed the cancer each time. I am so sick of being cut up! I hate mohs surgery... I really do, I had it on my scalp and arm. I don't want they cutting down to my bone like they did on my scalp. Being very sick already, I am sick and can't handle travel.

[@davidanderson8469]

The VA needs to outsource more to the private sector. Vets deserve as good a care as a civilian.

[@CT-ip5oe]

Too bad you went to John's Hopkins which is just a name. I personally know Mohs surgeons in NC who would have done just as good. Probably were smart to refer her though because in her mind, anything other than a plastic surgeon would not suffice, even with a better result.

[@davidanderson8469]

They've done beneficial mushroom micro dosing for PTSD there for 20 years with great success for the vets.. I'd think their derm staff would be top notch.

[@theblueman57]

I have it . Goodbye everyone I'm going home where my family is waiting . I have peace

[@sunnyboy4553]

theblueman57, are you still with us? I hope you are alright, I am concerned for you. Please give us an update. Much love from upstate New York.

[@JM-kz5if]

Soursop and dandelion root will kill cancer as well as red seeded grapes and key lime juice kill cancer cells

[@anitajovcevski6363]

Tomorrow is another day, dont do anything to yourself, it will be okay

[@karenoderkirk1831]

just had this done, my open wound was like the size of a silver dollar :( just got stitched up today

[@shawn1869]

How did your recovery go?

[@flipmck1075]

Amazing. Beautiful. Love you lady!

[@hickorydragon8114]

Too touchy feely, no details

[@lindamastropietro4429]

She is very pretty

[@dawnfinchhumphries779]

Wow! That looked so so terrible!

[@skittleydodaday.9299]

….. try having it in your nose… it’s a way worse scar

[@gaillaviolette6115]

❤️

[@anitharaysonitanya9916]

My anitha chin sugrey

[@VerityJohnson-sy6kf]

You are lucky but your vain