All those options sound better than the short angry pregnant dermatologist who went after a tiny spot in my chest with a melon baller. 4mm spot, 2 inch scar that looked like I'd sewed it up myself.

I got call from my dermatologist and it was confirmed as basil cell as he expected.

I already have surgery tentatively scheduled with a Mohs surgeon Monday December 10. I found one in my primary healthcare network who has a lot of positive reviews and she also has training in advanced facial reconstruction but she sure is busy LOL.

https://pdskin.com/team/sogyong-auh/

I also scheduled with my regular guy next week to have the full body check.

Thanks again for all the wonderful and extremely helpful advice and sharing of experiences. SIGforum, my one stop shop for just about anything I need to know.

Remember, Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever.

Good luck on your surgery....!

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
All those options sound better than the short angry pregnant dermatologist who went after a tiny spot in my chest with a melon baller. 4mm spot, 2 inch scar that looked like I'd sewed it up myself.

Wow, sorry to hear that. Remember though, chicks dig scars.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Remember, Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever.

Good luck on your surgery....!

Often this affliction re-occurs. You may wish to inquire of your dermatologist as regards "Efudex 5%" which is, in a loose sense, a prophylactic cream of fluorouracil for forestalling, inhibiting, or preventing basal cell carcinoma. It is therapeutically prescribed for suspect pre-cancerous areas of the skin at the direction of your physician.

quote:

Often this affliction re-occurs. You may wish to inquire of your dermatologist as regards "Efudex 5%" which is, in a loose sense, a prophylactic cream of fluorouracil for forestalling, inhibiting, or preventing basal cell carcinoma. It is therapeutically prescribed for suspect pre-cancerous areas of the skin at the direction of your physician.

It's about time for my annual skin check, I will ask the dermatophyte.

Well I had my MNOHS surgery Monday. It went well. The actual removal of the carcinoma was painless and a piece of cake and took her only 1 try for clear margins and she said it was not deep but was wide with about a dime size piece of flesh removed. When I got the good news she then said well there are a couple ways we can do the reconstructive part. I am like, wait what? I have to make a decision? I thought you just do what is best. She says the options were flap or graft and the both had their pros and cons. Oh great I was not ready for this. Anyhow the flap repair would require a zig zag type incision from right by my eyeball and the full length of the nose. A graft would require a donor site of my far left cheek just below the ear. The graft would probably be a bit lighter in color than the flap repair and require more care by me while it healed. Well I chose the graft as did not like the idea of the long zig zag incision and stitching on my nose. I thought there would be a tiny incision by my ear but it turned out to be about the length of my ear minus the lobe and 15 stitches, oh well LOL.

The actual reconstruction took at least a half and hour and lots of stitching and cauterizing , though it was mostly painless. However on occasion I could feel the cauterizing but the surgeon was real good about further local anesthesia and said to be sure to tell her when I could feel anything which was about 4 times. She said the anesthesia does not last long on the nose.

They finished and then I got cleaned up, bandaged, and sent home with instructions. I have a big bandage on my nose that I can not remove and they will do that next Monday when they remove the stitches by my ear. The stitches on my nose are the dissolving type. Afterwords I was second guessing myself about if I should have had the flap repair done instead but as my wife said, the main thing cancer is gone and you can't change what has already been done LOL.

So glad I got this ordeal over with and hopefully no more and I will be sure to see my dermatologist regularly for skin check.

If anyone has any question about anything unusual on their skin. Please get it checked out as the sooner it can be taken care of the better. I highly recommend looking into MOHS surgery for any removals of skin cancers on the face.

https://www.mohscollege.org/su...inder/disclaimer.php --- locate MOHS surgeon

Here is a link to a picture of my face/nose with the graft in place just before they bandaged me up in case anyone is interested.

https://i.imgur.com/2Jetzg9.jpg?1

between my nose and eye. Dr used a hole saw like device to core a perfect circle however many milimeters he wanted - then pinched the core with tweezers and pulled it up and snipped the bottom end loose so the whole little can shaped piece of flesh came off. Then about 2 stitches to close it up. Never an issue and they said all the margins of the piece he clipped were clean. Very tiny white skin scar now - years later. a few mm's long.

Glad to hear things went well and you're on the mend.

quote:

Originally posted by SBrooks:
between my nose and eye. Dr used a hole saw like device to core a perfect circle however many milimeters he wanted - then pinched the core with tweezers and pulled it up and snipped the bottom end loose so the whole little can shaped piece of flesh came off. Then about 2 stitches to close it up. Never an issue and they said all the margins of the piece he clipped were clean. Very tiny white skin scar now - years later. a few mm's long.

Great to hear. My eyes were covered up so I could not see what was going on which probably was just as well anyhow. By the look of my graft it looks like she used the same type of device.

quote:

Originally posted by ShouldBFishin:
Glad to hear things went well and you're on the mend.

Thanks!

quote:

If anyone has any question about anything unusual on their skin. Please get it checked out as the sooner it can be taken care of the better. I highly recommend looking into MOHS surgery for any removals of skin cancers on the face.

Did your insurance cover the cosmetic procedure after the basal cell carcinoma was removed?

Everything sounds good. Just follow the Dr's advice and I am sure all will be well. I am at the age where I have enough scars and wear on my body that I do not worry to much about looks, just trying to stay healthy and on the right side of the grass. Good luck.

I am glad all is well.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

quote:

If anyone has any question about anything unusual on their skin. Please get it checked out as the sooner it can be taken care of the better. I highly recommend looking into MOHS surgery for any removals of skin cancers on the face.

Did your insurance cover the cosmetic procedure after the basal cell carcinoma was removed?

I did not specifically check with my insurance but I have read at several places that the reconstructive surgery performed after MOHS surgery to remove skin cancer is typically covered. I expect mine will be also as I have excellent insurance through my wife. I will update when I get my EOB. In any case it needed to be done and I made sure to find a MOHS surgeon in our primary network. Surgery was also done in office versus in a hospital which also helps keep costs down.

quote:

Originally posted by Ironworker:
Everything sounds good. Just follow the Dr's advice and I am sure all will be well. I am at the age where I have enough scars and wear on my body that I do not worry to much about looks, just trying to stay healthy and on the right side of the grass. Good luck.

LOL. I know that you mean.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
I am glad all is well.

Thanks!

quote:

I did not specifically check with my insurance but I have read at several places that the reconstructive surgery performed after MOHS surgery to remove skin cancer is typically covered. I expect mine will be also as I have excellent insurance through my wife. I will update when I get my EOB. In any case it needed to be done and I made sure to find a MOHS surgeon in our primary network. Surgery was also done in office versus in a hospital which also helps keep costs down.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. Used to live in Chicago. Have family in Rockford and Naperville.

Wishing you well!