It all started sometime this summer when the skin on the side of my nose bled spontaneously as I was drying off after a shower. I looked – nothing there, just a spot of blood. I figured I scratched myself and didn’t give it much more thought.
Till it happened again a few months later in the exact same spot. Still nothing to see, but on careful palpation, I noticed the skin there felt just a little raised and irregular.
Now, I’m a girl with my Mom’s Irish skin and a baby oil adolescence who has had four basal cells on my back scraped off in the past 5 years. So I knew before I even saw the dermatologist that this was another basal cell.
But this is not just another basal cell. This one’s different.
This is my Nose.
And that means I need Mohs.
What is Mohs?
Mohs surgery is a special procedure designed to remove skin cancer with the least chance of recurrence and the least removal of healthy tissue.
Skin cancer can grow along the planes under the top layer of skin, so the cancer is often larger than it initially appears on the surface. So when the cancer is removed, the dermatologist will want to take a wide margin of healthy-appearing tissue around the edges of the visible lesion to be sure the cancer is all out.
But on the face, there is not the luxury of wide open space for big margins. And so the procedure of choice is Mohs surgery.
Here’s how Mohs works – The dermatologist shaves off what he thinks is all the cancer, then you go into the waiting room and he goes into the lab and looks at the specimen to see if all of it was removed. If the cancer is growing all the way to the edge of any part of the specimen, that means there’s probably some more still back there on your face. So back you go into surgery to have a little more removed – but just in the spots where the margins are positive. Then it’s back to the lab to see if that’s enough, and so one, till the whole lesion and every last bit of cancer is removed. Each subsequent specimen is smaller and smaller, leaving healthy tissue where it is and just going after the “legs” of the cancer, till finally it’s all out and you’ve got the smallest defect to repair that you can possible have.
But now you have a hole in your face, and it’s got to get closed up somehow.
Closing the skin after removal of skin cancer
After a skin cancer is removed, one can leave the defect to fill in itself. This is how the cancers on my back were treated – They were scraped off, then left to fill in on their own, and in a few weeks, I was left with red round scars that fade with time.
On the face, if the lesion is small, you can do the same thing.
But for the cancer on my nose, this method will not work. That’s because this kind of healing is accompanied by contraction of the skin, which in my case would lead to the nostril pulling up and out on one side.
So I need to have a flap, wherein the skin above the defect is rotated downward to cover it.
But it’s my Nose!
Mr TBAM had a similar surgery this past summer for a small cancer on the tip of his nose – a Mohs procedure followed by a flap. Now he has a sort of Raggedy Andy patch there that you don’t notice unless he points it out to you, at which point you can’t not see it, until you forget about it again.
Now that I am having to have the same procedure, all I can do is stare at Mr. TBTAM’s schnoz and worry about my own. I mean, he looks fine for a guy, but I’m sorry, I don’t want that scar on my nose.
So I asked my dermatologist if plastics could do my closure. He said of course, but that in fact he’s done many more of these than they have. His nurse confirmed that he does 90% of his own closures, and that other dermatologists send their difficult ones to him for that very reason. At that point, what I really wanted to say was “If I was Julia Roberts, would you do the closure or call in plastics?” but that seemed rather rude. So instead I just said that he could do the closure.
And then I spent the rest of the week silently freaking out. And staring at Mr TBAM”s nose.
Three days before my procedure, I happened to mention this to a nurse I work with, who was shocked that there was even a dilemma. Why wouldn’t I want plastics? She then regaled me with stories of deformed faces she’d seen on the subway, wondered how those poor people got through the day, and reminded me how in America appearance is everything. I then called a female colleague who I’d seen as a patient several times. “What, are you nuts? Of course, plastics is closing you! This is your nose, for gods sake! You’re seeing the best Mos dermatologist I know, but he’s a dermatologist, for god sakes! Of course he’s going to tell you you’ll look fine – He’s a guy, they don’t even notice when we get our hair cut half the time! End of discussion. Here’s the name of the plastic surgeon who’s going to do your closure…”
I made the call, dropped my name and I was in.
I have no idea if using plastics for the closure is going to make any real difference in how I look after my Mohs procedure. I adore my dermatologist, and he really is the go-to man for this surgery. But suddenly I’m calm. Not because I don’t think I’ll have a scar, but because I know I will have done everything I can to be sure it’s the best scar I can get.
After all, this is my Nose.
__________________________________________
Sounds like the nose knows that the gut knows best…good for you for following your instincts. Positive thoughts being sent your way!
Small areas close best by secondary intention (the color match), but larger areas need local flap (the color match). Good luck to you.
And would you submit this to SurgeXperiences?
The good news for your nose is that derms who train in Mohs are few and far between – I believe it is is an extra year of fellowship in some programs. So if you trust your doc, and it sounds like you do, you’re in luck. Still, my prayers will be with you…and your dermatologist. 🙂
Definitely sounds a bit anxiety producing to me. Hope it will all turn out to be fine.
Good luck with this!
(From an ignorant perspective: how does moving a flap of skin from one area to another not leave a big hole in the first area that would cause the same scaring problem?)
Bardiac, those nice “lines” between the cheek and mouth that frame and those beside the nose make nice places to “hide” scars. If the flap is planned well, then it “rotates” into the first defect from the Mols and then the second defect is closed as a line.
Heaven “nose” this is trouble nobody needs. Still, I admire your sense of humor in the “face” of a difficult situation.
Sorry, couldn’t resist the puns. I think you made the right decision about plastics. Please accept my best wishes for a good outcome and a teenie, tiny, invisible scar.
This was such an informative post. thank you. i read part 2 but blogger wouldn’t let me comment but will now try again.
I had Mohs surgery on Feb 22, with a basal cell cancer on the left side of my nose, but nearer the tip! No one ever suggested that I have a plastic surgeon close my wound, and I never thought of it. I was confident that my dermatologist who had done a 3-year fellowship in Mohs, and plastic surgery would do fine. A skin graft was taken from beside me ear. That incision is totally invisible now, but my nose! Oh! my nose! It looks like someone put a cigarette out on it. I’m told that it will improve, but it’s right there in the middle of my face, like a third eye. I am just 50 (so far, I’m not thrilled with this age milestone!) blue-eyed, and pretty, and after 3 weeks, I am not thrilled, but also not sure of my options at this point…sigh…
Ann –
Just 3 weeks ago? It’s way to soon to judge how you are going to look, I’ll bet it’s going to heal just fine.
After spending so much time with my dermatologist, I suspect I over-reacted a bit by going to plastics. These Moh’s guys (and girls) really do know what theya re doin, and close more of these wounds than most plastics folks.
Give me a shout in a few weeks, we’ll compare noses.
And, if you don’t like how it looks, plastics is still out there….
I would love to hear an update from both of you on your surgeries and scars. I had my biopsy today, and will likely have Mohs (on my nose!) in mid-May. I share your fears and concerns. Any advice you can pass along is much appreciated!
Hi Patricia,
Good luck on your biopsy. I had two and only one was positive for BCC. I am 8 weeks post-Op now, and still color is “off”…kinda purple-ish. My surgeon said it is because the skin graft is thinner than the rest of the skin on my nose. I have been using a silicone patch at night. What can I say? It is what it is. I have two options: dermabrasion or laser treatment. I have to research both, but won’t do anything until the Fall. In the meantime, during our annual vacation to the Caribbean, I was doing the lifeguard immitation with zinc on my nose and big hat!
Good Luck.
Thanks for your quick response and candidness. I don’t know anyone who has gone through this, so I really appreciate you sharing your experience with me.
I received my biopsy results yesterday, and it was worse than I feared… squamous cell instead of basal cell! I am meeting with the Mohs surgeon today, and he has asked me to choose a plastic surgeon to do the closure. As you said, it is what it is. I just know I want it out as soon as possible.
At the risk of sounding vain, how long was it before you could take the bandage off and face people without them gasping? I’ve had this all week with my biopsy scar, so I can only imagine how it will be post surgery. How long was it before you could attempt to cover it with make-up?
Thanks again!
Patricia –
I was a week with stitches and a big bandage, another week with sutures out and a bandaid (or two) and then nothing. I started wearing makeup at 4 weeks post op.
IT looks really good these days – will post a photo as soon as I can get around to it.
Good luck!
Hi, I was just reading the exchanges. I just found out that I have a bcc on the bridge of my nose. It is a spot about the size (diameter) of a straw. I am not going to see the Derm until the end of May, so I don’t know which procedure he will use. I have to say, I am really worried about what my nose will look like afterwards. Especially being on the top of the bridge where the skin is not as ample. Anyone know someone who had it done on the bridge of their nose? Any pics? I am normally not this vain, but something just recoils at the thought of it.
I had mohs surgery at Torrey pines in San Diego on the bridge of my nose. It was very deep but I saw in the mirror before they closed it he did a skin graft and it looks really great except it’s a little bit lighter than my other skin
Thanks for posting about your Mohs surgery. I am scheduled this coming Thursday, May 15th for Mohs on my nose and to be honest I am scared to death.
It consumes my every waking moment and I just wish it were done with already.
Pakala76 and Anonymous… My scc is on the tip of my nose. I too am afraid of the results… mainly because of the location right in the middle of my face. If only we could go away somewhere to hide for a few weeks while it heals!
I have 2 appts. this week – a more experienced Mohs surgeon and a plastic surgeon experienced in Mohs closures on the nose. My surgery won’t be scheduled as quickly, but I feel more confident that it will be done right. Meanwhile, I am concerned that it continues to grow while I am waiting…
Please keep us posted on your progress.
I had MOHS surgery on April 3,’08.
I thought that my visible cancer, a BCC was quite small, kind of like the size of a sesame seed. My dermatologist recommended a MOHS surgeon who I saw, however she refused to do the close, sending me to a plastic surgeon. I then saw him. He scared the hell out of me by telling me that if the cancer was any larger he would have to close me in the hospital. I couldn’t understnad this as the cancer that I could see (and all that they could see) was quite small. Needless to say I sought another opinion. The MOHS surgeon that I selected seemed more confident in his work and did the surgery as well as the close. This precisely what the MOHS College of Surgery claims that their graduates are supposed to be able to do. The cancer was on the left side of my nose and of course I was very concerned about healing, but I was also concerned about spending 5 hours having MOHS surgery and then having to drive to a plastic surgeons office for the close. I wanted a doctor who would do both. I am now 5 weeks post op. The closure was done with a flap from an area on my nose adjacent to the cancer site. I looks like I am wearing one of those little round bandaids thay give you after an injection. I am not thrilled with it, but I must admit it has improved dramatically in the 5 weeks since the surgery. I don’t know if I would have gotten a much better result from a plastic surgeon, you really don’t know how you will heal. I felt that none of the doctors that I saw were very forthcoming in explaining the procedure. I thought that the closure was a relatively minor part, when in fact when a flap or a graft is used additional surgery is done. But, and this is the whole issue, and it took me a while to really accept it, is that the idea is to get rid of the cancer which MOHS does a great job of, so the scar, or what ever it eventually turns out to be is immaterial if my cancer is cured.
All:
I just had a basal cell removed from the tip of my nose this past Monday. So far, I am shocked at how much they removed from my nose (the original size of the BCC was about the diameter of a pencil eraser and the final cavity after the procedure was about twice as big). The mohs surgeon ended up using skin from the back of my ear to plug the hole in my nose. I go in today to see how the healing is coming along and will keep you all posted.
My Mohs story continues… I had a consult with a very well-respected plastic surgeon for the closure of my upcoming Mohs surgery on the tip of my nose. He wants to do a flap by cutting all the way up one side of my nose to the area between my eyebrows and replacing the missing tissue on the tip of my nose with tissue from between my eyebrows, then stitching it back up. I will have a scar the length of my nose, but he says this will be less noticeable than the alternatives. Has anyone heard of this or had this done? Needless to say, I am petrified.
kd – how did your consult go?
Hi My name is Carol and I have just had a removal of a large aggressive BCC on 05/20/2008. The MOHs surgeon was conservative for the first attempt but lab confirmed further attempt at removal was necessary. Second attempt very successful but 75% of the left-hand side of my nose was removed down to cartlige was excised. Dental block for pain relieve was very good! No pain just tugging sensation. I was admitted to the ‘Burns’ ward for plastic reconstruction on the 05/21/2008.
Coming round from anasthetic was sore but pain was immediately controlled by paracetamol IV. No sickness after affects. The Plastic Surgeon used a large forehead flap which looks like you have a large sausage between your eyes but they say it gives the best cosmetic result. I’m scheduled for the next stage (lump thinning) on 06/04/2008 followed by contouring of the nose on the 06/11/2008 and lat a much later stage laser treatment for the hairs on the grafted site.
Anonymous – SOunds liek you ahda very good surgical experience. From what I have seen, the forhead flaps turn out beautifullly. BEst of luck!
To follow up on my prior posts… I had my Mohs surgery yesterday. After having to wait over two months post-biopsy to coordinate both the Mohs and plastic surgeons, a significant indentation had formed on the tip of my nose. I felt certain the cancer had grown, but my Mohs surgeon said it measured the same. It took two attempts to get all of the cancer.
My plastic surgeon did the closure as planned… taking tissue from between my eyebrows and moving it down to fill in the indentation on the tip of my nose. The skin was also stretched to cover the damaged area. I now have a v-shaped cut on the tip of my nose, continuing up the side of my nose, and ending with an inverted v-shaped cut between my eyebrows. Honestly, it looks horrible right now. But I think he did an amazing job considering the damage. My stitches will be removed in one week, and when I try to look past them, my nose actually looks pretty normal. And, most importantly, it is a relief to know the cancer is gone.
Patricia –
So glad it’s done. I’m sure it’s going to look just fine.
Keep us updated.
TBTAM
I would love to hear updates from those of you who posted about your impending Mohs surgeries but haven’t yet posted the results. I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to turn this blog into a Mohs forum, so if you know a more appropriate site, please redirect me. For me, this site was a great source of information and comfort as I dealt with my initial skin cancer diagnosis and Mohs surgery. Although I am now recovering, I am still seeking information on the healing process, scar treatments (Mederma, hydrocortisone, etc.), scar revision surgery, healing timeframes, etc. I am interested in hearing feedback on what worked and what didn’t from others going through the same experience.
Hello Patricia! I’m a 29 year old woman diagnosed with BCC on my left ala. I immediately started learning about the Mohs procedure and was thankful for your blog and all those who responded. I had my Mohs yesterday. Here’s some info about it. I had to go back in twice before closure and was left with a defect abt 1 cent. in diameter. I had expected some flap closure but he just stitched two sides up, leaving a small in the center to close on it’s own. I’ll post pics (if I can figure out how) when I do my next dressing change. It’s bleeding a little periodically and my left nostril is totally swollen shut. Had quite a bit of pain yesterday but hardly any today. The left side of my nose is numb as well as part of the left side of my face. Not sure why this is so but will call the Dr. tomorrow to ask if it’s still this way. My nostril is pulled up a little but he says it’ll go down as it heals. for those of you who haven’t done it yet, if the the doctor offers you for something for pain, take it! I didn’t. I said “na, I’m not going to need anything.” Well thank goodness I had something left from my shingles eposide last year! Thanks again for an informative blog!
God this is helpful, but a little scary, and yet oddly comforting. I did not look at your pics except the last one… you look great! I’m having mohs on my nose in early December. My surgeon is a mohs and reconstructive specialist. Do you think I should still insist on a plastic surgeon to finish? My insurance will cover. Also wonder, in hindsight, if you have advice for me or if you’ve though of questions you wish you had asked. My consult is later this week. Thanks for anytime you can spare to answer.
Susanna,
I had my Mohs (exactly in the same spot as TBTAM) last February. In hindsight, I did wish that I had had a plastics doctor do my closing. My Mohs surgeon closed it with a skin graft taken from beside my ear. My nose is fine, and I am happy with my outcome, but I do have a scar, a darkened area about the size of a small jellybean…and it’s on my nose! With all my sunscreen, I seem to have even developed a freckle…(I had it checked! It’s a freckle – my Irish skin!) In dim lighting and not too close up, my nose is fine, but I look at it more closely. I never thought to ask for a plastic surgeon, and it was never recommended. So, if your insurance will cover, I’d go with that!
Good luck and keep us posted!
Susannah-
I’ll never know if the good result I got was because I chose a plastic surgeon or if it would have looked as good if I had let the dermatologist do it.
I wish the dermatologists had a book of photos to look at to see their work ahead of time to get an idea.
Whatever you choose, odds are you’ll look just fine,.
Good luck!
I just had Mohs surgery four days ago for a BCC on my forehead, right at the hairline, and then a skin graft the next day for reconstruction. It’s been comforting to read about other people’s experiences here. I keep telling myself that I’m glad they got the cancer and that, in the big scheme of things, it’s not a big deal, but . . . . It was a bigger deal than I expected it to be, I’m only 31, it’s on my face, and this just seems a little unfair. So, it’s nice to know other people have been through something similar and can understand these feelings.
Dear Anon,
I have had what you had, but on ly nose. The best advice I have is, GIVE IT TIME! What it looks like now will definitely improve. If you are not sure, here’s a suggestion: Take a picture of yourself each week, on the same day. That way you’ll “see” the improvement. People have said mine is so unnoticeable, but I am always harder on myself.
Good Luck.
I had Mohs surgery on my nose last April and have been very impressed with the results. The Dr. removed skin from the tip of my penis and used it to cover the hole from my surgery. Initially it was a little off color, but it is now exactly the same color of my nose.
Penis skin? You are kidding, right?
Does your nose grow when you get excited?
Ann, thank you for your reply to my Nov. 8th post. I am trying to remember to “give it time,” especially today. The doctor just removed the sutures and the covering on my skin graft, and said, “It looks great,” which must be from a purely medical perspective (!) referring to the fact that the graft took, because from any other perspective, it looks fairly shocking (about dime-sized and 1/8-inch deep). I’m going to make an appointment with a plastic surgeon to discuss scar revision–I think my dermatologist is incredibly skilled at what he does and I’m happy, of course, that he removed all the cancer, but I wish he’d been a little more forthcoming about what to expect along the way. Again, it’s been nice to have this forum to read about others’ experiences. I think we all know how to think about this in rational terms (the cancer’s gone, it’s a relatively minor surgery, etc.), but it’s nice to have others confirm that this can feel a little depressing and worrisome and that there is hope that things get better as you heal. Thanks.
Anonymous,
I know I said it before, and I will say it again: Give it time! I think I was feeling pretty much the way you do now when my bandages came off. I was not happy, it was purple, a bit of a crater, and it’s the first thing I saw when I looked at myself. My doctor, too, kept saying how good it looked…(I guess when you see what he does, it did look good, but not from my perspective!) I made many return visits, and he told me to come back in the Fall…He said he would not touch it at all until after 6 months. He also said, “I bet in the Fall we won’t end up doing anything.” Well, he was right. Of course you should find out what your options are. Mine were dermabrasion or laser treatments…both of which I won’t do because my nose (really!) looks fine…but I had to give it time! Good Luck!
why are people so caught up on having a plastic surgeon do the repair. most mohs surgeons are just as good if not better than a plastic surgeon at doing repairs on the face. in fact, mohs surgeons basically only remove skin cancers and do repairs whereas plastic surgeons do all kinds of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures.
I ended up using a plastic surgeon after my MOHS surgery as well. Some plastic surgeons are not trained for this, but I went to an Otolaryngologist (ENT) who is trained specifically in reconstructing facial defects after surgeries like MOHS.
Of course MOHS surgeons are trained and can do it, but it isn’t their specialty, dermatology is. You just have to decide what you feel comfortable with.
By the way, the comments on this site have been really helpful. I had my MOHS surgery this past Monday, 1/5 and had a skin graft done by a plastic surgeon on Tuesday. I still have gauze covering the skin graft, but at least now I have a better idea of what to expect when it comes off next week. Thank you!
Hi everyone,
I just received THE call this morning from my dermatologist and he recommends MOHS. I stumbled onto this site by way of google and am so grateful I did.
I asked if there was another alternative to cutting and he said there was radiation but did not recommend it.
I can’t express how grateful I am that you all took the time to speak of what you went through. It is so helpful for me to make the decision.
By the way I will be 71 in three weeks but it is still MY NOSE. 12 years ago I had a carcinoma basal cell removed from my eyebrow. I was promised a plastic surgeon but when I arrived it was the regular surgeon. I now have a quizzical look as my eyebrow has an indent and a spot with no hair.
I believe this time, I will insist on a plastic surgeon but will know better after my consutation with the MOHS doctor.
Again, I can’t thank you enough for your time and care. It is easing my anxiety.
Thanks for being there.
Mary Grace
My wife just had a biopsy for a small lesion on her nose, and I have a strong feeling that it’s BCC. We have an excellent facial plastic surgeon in town who has done close to 3000 MOHS procedures. Is it normal for a plastic surgeon to also do MOHS? I though you had to be a dermatologist.
Also, does anyone have advice for a husband who wants to be supportive but doesn’t really know how? I’m trying to be helpful, but I know this is going to be very difficult for my wife.
This blog is great. Super information that I think will be very comforting to my wife. Thanks!
Funny you should ask! I just thanked my husband today for putting up with a wife with a wacky looking nose. I had a bilobed flap done about a year ago and lost the tip of my nose to BBC. I’m 51 and I still fight the overwhelming feeling of having lost my looks. My first surgery was in Dec. of 2007. I had a revision this last March for pincushioning of the flap and will go for another “touchup” in September. Anyway, my husband has been so supportive and not once has he made any negative comments about how my nose looks. He always listens to my complaints with compassion. When we are going somewhere special, it’s hard for me to feel “pretty” and he compliments me. It helps a lot because deep inside I feel so flawed and ugly. This has been a challege and sometimes I get so angry inside. I’m glad he keeps things in a positive light. Hope that helps and good luck!
I had my MOHS almost a year ago and have been wanting to thank you so very much for your descriptive details regarding what to expect. I too was as anxiety-ridden as everyone else. It was your blog that eased my fears since I figured if a doc did ok & wrote about it, then I will too – and I did. It was on the side of my nose too. I had a specialist in MOHS at Fox Chase Hospital in Phila. Now almost a year later, it is barely noticeable (of course I see it but everyone else says they cannot). Thank you again, for being willing to share your experience and help me with my surgery.
Thank you for blogging on this procedure. My cancer was in the same spot as yours and I had my surgery yesterday. I was prepared thanks to you and when I saw your picture I thought it looked really good. I take my pressure bandaid off tomorrow and am not ready to see the outcome. I now understand the feeling of "its my nose". I'm sure it will be okay in a year or so! One thing I would recommend – wear an ipod during surgery, the sounds were strange, especially during the repair. Thank you to everyone who has shared on this sight – it has been a blessing for me!
Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences on this blog. I've found it so useful once I found it after endless Googling. The medical sites are ok, but talk in very safe, general terms and don't address how one feels. I am a 42 year old woman and had Mohs surgery on the tip of my nose on 11th December. The defect was 12 x 14mm and after the Mohs guy did his bit (how gross is the bit where they cauterise the wound?!) a plastics guy did the reconstruction using a graft from behind my ear. I'd been doing ok up until the week after when they took the dressing off to take out the stitches. Not sure what I'd been expecting and actually don't think I was really prepared properly – but have been in bits since then. Was horrified by what I saw – massive red hole in the middle of my face. He said he thought it looked 'great' (er – not to me it doesn't) and the nurse said it will be practically invisible in time. But frankly find that hard to believe – and all the sites say there will definitely be scars. I'm thinking of keeping it covered with a plaster and tape for months if necessary rather than have to show the horror beneath to the world. Can anyone tell me how long it takes – roughly – before it starts to look vaguely normal? So when it fills out rather than being big cavity? I have been shocked at how vain I am – I'm trying to be grateful that it was only bcc, not melanoma, people deal with far bigger problems than this etc., but somehow don't seem to be able to stop crying. Really rather pathetic.
I just find out I have squamous cancer on the tip of nose and I will do mohs surgery in a couple weeks and a plastic surgery in the same day, from outside the area is about a half of the straw, my doctor said she can't tell me how will be the size of the scar or if I will need a graft or something before she actually do the mohs…somebody had similar experience like me?
Adriana, I was wondering how your surgery went and how you are doing. I had Mohs surgery on my nose in May. They had to do a graft. This blog was wonderful to find and explained more than others. I am grateful to TBTAM.
Camille
hello , its me Adriana after surgery on 23 march and now after 4 months I still have indentation on my nose my squamous cancer on the tip of nose was 4mm x 6mm the mohs procedure was done in only 1 shot , plastic surgery within 2 hours after mohs which he close up with a vertical incision , I still have little redness and the DENTS which is kind impossible to hide with make up but is getting better every day slowly my doctor recommend I use silicone patch which improved a lot!!!next week I will see my plastic surgeon and post here what he said to me
more… I have to ask if someone feel a burning sensation in the cancer spot before the surgery? mine was painfull like acid , after the surgery was normal again . Also I find a way to make up to hide indentation on line its like you do make up twice (concealour twice, let dry…) better results but you still see the indentation, about redness means your body its working in that area has blood there building skin you can't have sun on that spot during that time because it will trap there forever and don't use laser also because you will destroy that . thats why the doctor make us wait
This site has helped me tremendously. I found out I had a BCC on my nose (right side) on 6/3/10. The month waiting to have my MOHS was very trying. I cried a lot afraid of what was going to happen to me and fearing that my face would be scarred. I had Mohs on 7/21/10 and it took three passes to remove entirely. I am quite swollen and bruised and can remove the bandage today for the first time. I am definitely afraid of what I will see, but now have hope reading all of the stories posted that it will be ok. Like most people who have posted their stories here, I know there are far worse things to have to endure and sometimes feel a bit guilty that I am so upset about what the final outcome will look like. I am 43 years old and although I know I am not Miss America, my looks are important to me. Thank you, thank you for everyone who has shared their experiences. It has been a tremendous support in a time when I have felt very vulnerable and lonely. Now time to remove the banadage….
Hi, such a wonderful site-I have found all your comments supportive and informative-I was diagnosed with BCC on the bridge of my nose-my lesion was about 2mm clear bump, barely noticable-I was told it was a sebacceous hyperplasia by two dermatologists, so was relieved and didn’t worry much-lately, I thought I noticed a very small increase in size looking at it through a 10x mirror! I recommend buying a mirror that is magnified to at least 10x to spot these early BCC:) It was biopsied on my request and it came back positive for basal cell. I had my Mohs surgery yesterday-I went to a Mohs surgeon who removed the tumor and did the repair. Everything went fairly quick, as I was lucky to have a small tumor, but even with that I ended up with a one inch vertical scar going down my nose. I am a bit swollen this morning, with very faint bruising under both eyes. I will take off the bandage for the first time later today, so will post and let you know how it looks. Yesterday, after the closure, my nose was very swollen and the incision looked bumpy-just not a good looking nose immediately after the repair-I hope today things look better-good luck to all of you going through this and I will keep you posted.