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Post MOHS Reconstruction
*Dr. Kuhlman-Wood does not perform MOHS Surgery.
MOHS surgery* is a specialized procedure that is used to remove skin cancer lesions. Depending upon the severity and size of the lesion or lesions, your surgeon will either close the incisions, or suggest post-MOHS reconstructive surgery.
There are several options for post MOHS reconstruction. Dr. Kuhlman-Wood will tailor your reconstruction based on a variety of factors, such as the location of the lesions, amount, size, and the types of tissues that were affected. The most common techniques are:
- Local Flap or adjacent tissue rearrangement, which is most commonly used in facial reconstruction and involves repositioning healthy tissue from a surrounding area over the wound.
- Bone Grafting, which involves the removal of bone from the skull that is then shaped and placed into the wound.
- Cartilage Grafting, which involves removing cartilage from the ear or rib to relocate to the wound.
- Tissue Expansion, which involves the growth of extra skin through controlled mechanical overstretch of the existing skin, or skin grafts, in which skin is removed from one area of the body and relocated to the incision site.
During MOHS surgery, the lesions have been removed, and your surgeon has determined that simply suturing or stitching the incision closed will not be a sufficient conclusion to your procedure. If your skin cancer lesions have spread to the point that it requires multiple incisions, a large or irregularly shaped incision or incisions, and reconstruction has been deemed necessary, you will be considered an ideal candidate for post MOHS reconstruction surgery.
Most of the time, the decision to perform post MOHS reconstruction will be made after the removal, and will follow shortly, if not immediately after the removal is complete.
At Coeur d’Alene Plastic Surgery™, our entire staff is committed to providing a frictionless surgical experience. It begins with our first meeting and continues through appropriate education and care across your entire surgical experience. This includes providing you the care you need while you recover.
Where will my Post-MOHS Reconstruction be performed?
Dr. Kuhlman-Wood performs all Post-MOHS Reconstruction Procedures at either Northwest Specialty Hospital or PleasantView Surgery Center. Both facilities are Doctor-owned facilities and have impeccable records of patient success and satisfaction. Factors such as schedule availability, procedural complexity and your individual needs will determine the location of your procedure.
What should I expect on the day of Surgery?
Before the procedure can begin, Dr. Kuhlman-Wood will explain the goals and risks of the procedure, and you will be required to sign an informed consent form, which states that you understand why the procedure needs to be done and what possible complications it could involve. Next, you will be given local, general, or intravenous anesthesia. The choice between the three will likely be determined by Dr. Kuhlman-Wood, and will be dependent upon any pre-existing medical conditions you have, what works best for this specific procedure, and other individual factors. She will also determine which option is best for repairing the resulting skin defect or wound that was left behind after the lesions were removed.
Dr. Kuhlman-Wood will make every attempt to ensure the suture line follows the natural creases and curves of your body, in order to camouflage the resulting scar
Recovering after Post-MOHS Reconstruction
After the procedure, you will stay in the hospital for observation. Dr. Kuhlman-Wood will instruct you on how long you need to stay, when you can return home, and how you should care for your wounds at home. A member of the surgical staff will apply bandages or dressings to your wounds, and instruct you on how to change them and when to wear them in order to keep the incisions clean, dry, and free from infection. You may need to take antibiotics to prevent infection.
It is very important to refrain from smoking, as this will interfere with your body’s natural healing process.
In some cases, post MOHS reconstruction surgery may need to be done in more than one stage. If this is true for you, Dr. Kuhlman-Wood will tell you when you need to return for the second stage or a follow-up visit to determine if you have recovered enough to move forward to a second procedure.
The cost of post MOHS reconstruction surgery may vary greatly, depending upon many individual factors, including the severity of the reconstruction, the areas affected, which techniques will be required, the number of stages required, hospital or facility fees, prescriptions, and several other considerations. However, since it is generally considered a medically required service and not cosmetic, it is likely to be covered by your health insurance plan.
A member of our staff will contact your insurance provider to confirm your eligibility, limits, deductible, and potential co-pays. If post MOHS reconstruction is not covered by your health insurance, or you don’t have health insurance, Coeur d'Alene Plastic Surgery provides financing through Care Credit® to help break up the cost over time.
Post MOHS Reconstruction at a Glance:
- Procedure Location:
- Northwest Specialty Hospital
- Required Hospital Stay:
- Yes
- Recovery Time:
- varies
- Procedure Cost:
- $varies greatly
- Financing Available:
- Insurance Coverage (typical)
Other Face Procedures:
our practice
Coeur d'Alene Plastic Surgery™ believes that our client's overall health and safety comes first. All procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, are recommended conservatively and performed with Plastic Surgery's best practices to produce appropriate and expected outcomes.
