Mohs surgery
No one wants a skin cancer, but most people will develop a skin cancer at some time in their life, and skin cancers account for around 80% of all new cancers. One risk factor we can control is UV light exposure and Australia has a very high UV light index.
Treating skin cancer means clearing the cancerous cells. Traditional surgical removal attempts cancer clearance by removing lots of normal tissue around the cancer. This is a valid technique where excess tissue exists, like on the belly, but it doesn’t work on the face where the skin is precious. Who want to have facial skin removed unnecessarily? Mohs surgery offers dual advantages of maximising cancer clearance whilst at the same time, minimising the sacrifice of normal skin, giving you the highest chance of best aesthetic result after reconstruction.
Most people fear the word cancer, and our aim is to provide a smooth transition from diagnosis to cure.
2 surgeons – remove and repair
A Mohs surgeon is a specialist at clearing the skin cancer, whilst a field of specialist plastic surgery of the eyes and face has evolved, dedicated to repairing this region of the face. Dr Maloof is a specialist Oculoplastic surgeon with over 20 years’ experience in repairing and reconstructing defects of the eyes and face.
Reconstruction by Dr Maloof works to achieve aesthetic and functional repair of the hole which means making it look good and function optimally. The larger the hole, the more time consuming and slower the final aesthetic recovery but even small holes can take time to full aesthetic recovery. Dr Maloof is appointed to the The Skin Hospital at Darlinghurst and Westmead and sits on the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC). Most surgical repairs are carried out at The Skin Hospital.
After Surgery
You can remove the dressing after 1-2 days, shower, wash your face, and return to work when you are comfortable. Stiches are removed after 7-10 days and the wound heals over 3 – 6 months.
Important points to remember
- Pay attention to your face and question the appearance of every bump or change
- Get a whole-body check to exclude that skin you can’t see…scalp, back, behind ears
- A regular dermatology review is required