Reconstructive surgery after skin cancer focuses on safe removal and natural restoration, helping patients heal with both confidence and comfort.
Reconstructive Surgery for Skin Cancer in San Diego, CA
Restoring Form and Function with Skin Cancer Reconstruction in San Diego
At Coastal Plastic Surgeons, we understand the difficulties that arise from living with unsightly skin tags, moles, and other skin lesions on the body. We perform reconstructive skin surgery to help remove those problem areas on the skin’s surface and provide screenings before moving forward into removal to make sure we have a comprehensive understanding of the area beneath the skin, and how to proceed with your customized treatment.
What Can Reconstruction Surgery Achieve After Skin Cancer?
Safe Removal of Cancerous Skin
Your plastic surgeon can surgically remove cancerous and other skin lesions using specialized techniques to preserve your health and appearance. Skin cancers on the face can be easily removed, and tissue can be examined to see if any cancerous skin remains. Once the cancer is safely removed, the following step in your treatment requires that your plastic surgeon begin the reconstructive process.
Natural Facial Appearance
Although no surgery is without scars, your plastic surgeon will make every effort to treat the area affected by skin cancer without dramatically changing your appearance. One of the primary goals for reconstruction in the face is preventing facial skin cancer defects from imposing on the original form of an individual’s appearance. Restoring function is also key, allowing the face to return to a state that is as normal as possible.
Comprehensive and Personalized Reconstruction
We offer everything from scar revision treatment to skin grafts designed to get your treatment just right. Everything during your reconstruction process is personalized to your medical and aesthetic needs. Grafting from donor areas of the body will also be personalized according to the amount of tissue needed and the tone or pigmentation that best matches the reconstruction site.
Easing Your Concerns
Recovery
After your reconstruction has been completed, you may experience soreness, redness, and draining of small amounts of fluid from the incision area. Your surgeon will provide wound care instructions that must be followed and instructions for taking proper pain medication.
Pain
Reconstruction surgery for skin cancer is typically performed under anesthesia, so the only pain you will experience is the injection of the anesthesia itself. Following the operation, patients will experience irritation, inflammation, and mild to moderate pain in the treated areas. Prescription or over-the-counter pain medications may be used to manage subsequent pain. The swelling and discomfort should be alleviated in just a couple of weeks.
Scars
Reconstruction surgery for skin cancer requires that small to significant incisions be made to reposition and repurpose flaps and skin grafts. Because of this, the significance of scarring is usually determined by the amount of grafting and flap required for proper reconstruction. The site for reconstruction itself will be treated in a way that creates the most seamless and smooth resurfacing of the skin possible. Any scars that develop should fade over time with proper care. This includes keeping the skin away from direct sunlight to speed the healing process and applying proper nutrients to the skin with topical creams.
Cost
Reconstruction surgery for skin cancer in San Diego can vary based on a multitude of factors. These may include: The amount and size of treatment areas
- Anesthesia fees
- Surgical fees
- Facility fees
You will receive a personalized quote after you consult with Coastal Plastic Surgeons.
FAQs Reconstructive Surgery for Skin Cancer
When will my final reconstruction results be visible?
Your final results will become apparent over time as your graft or flap adjusts to the skin’s blood flow. Over the following six months, the body should provide the area with the proper nourishment.
Your results are permanent, as the extracted tissue will begin to regenerate in the treated area. The final visibility of results depends on the amount of tissue harvested and reapplied, although patients typically see fully recovered results within a year.
Am I a candidate for reconstruction surgery for skin cancer removal in San Diego?
Ideal candidates for reconstruction are non-smokers who are physically healthy and do not have medical conditions that hinder healing. Ideal candidates should have realistic expectations of their results and be willing to consider a donor area of their body to reconstruct their defective skin.
Will reconstruction help the structure of my nose?
Nose reconstruction after skin cancer can be performed to help correct the defects and disfigurement caused by skin cancer. The nose is a complex structure and requires specialized techniques to accommodate the various angles of the nose. Many patients find success with reconstruction that only addresses the outer layer of the nose. More extensive reconstruction may require more than one procedure to complete an aesthetically and functionally pleasing reconstruction. If functional treatment is required, a rhinoplasty or septoplasty may be combined for a more comprehensive correction.
How dangerous is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is usually the result of sun damage and is the most common form of cancer in the United States and worldwide. The estimated five-year survival rate for U.S. patients whose melanoma is detected early is about 99 percent.
