Reconstructive Skin Cancer Surgery
What is Reconstructive Skin Cancer Surgery?
While cancer is a disease that can unfortunately affect any organ in the body, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. The three most prevalent types of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, and these commonly affect prominent parts of the body including the face, head, and neck. In many cases, the definitive treatment for these cancers is surgical excision, and the concern for scars or disfigurement is one that most patients share. Depending on the location and extent of the cancer, the result from removal of the tumor may range from a scar to total disruption of a facial structure such as the nose, lips, eyes, or ears.
Who is a good candidate for Reconstructive Skin Cancer Surgery?
Candidates must be in good health, have no active diseases or serious, pre-existing medical conditions, and must have realistic expectations of the outcome of the surgery. Talk to your surgeon about your goals and expectations for this procedure.
How is the procedure performed?
Reconstructive cancer surgery encompasses a variety of procedures, ranging from basic scar revision, to local rearrangement of tissue, to skin grafts, to complex transfer of tissue or muscle flaps from more distant places on the body in order to reconstruct and restore function as well as aesthetic appearance. Talk to your USF Health plastic surgeon about what procedure you should consider. Having this procedure will not prevent a recurrence.