Mohs’ surgery is a procedure developed specifically to remove a basal cell carcinoma (a cancerous lesion). The Mohs’ surgery itself is performed using visualization with a microscope to carefully remove the cancerous lesion layer by layer. Each layer removed is analyzed until all margins are free of any cancerous tissue. This technique spares as much of the surrounding healthy tissue as possible. Reconstruction surgery is normally required following Mohs’ surgery. Reconstruction is usually performed the same day or the day after the Mohs’ procedure.

What is involved in reconstruction?

Reconstructing the area of defect left by the removal of the cancer is best performed by a reconstructive and cosmetic surgeon specialist with an enormous amount of skill and experience in order to achieve the best structural, functional and aesthetic result possible. A specialist has extensive training in aesthetics and ultra smooth wound closures for scar minimization and will take extra time to address the minute aesthetic details for a natural, non-surgical result.

Some defects left by the Mohs’ surgery often require the use skin grafts from other parts of the body during reconstruction. The skin behind the ear is a common area from which to harvest skin grafts as it is close in color and texture to facial skin. For larger defects there are several types of incisions that can be made to obtain a skin flap which can be rotated to cover the area. The type of incision made will depend on at least four things: the size of the defect, the location of the defect, the quality of the surrounding skin, and whether that skin is tight or loose.