Skin Cancer Reconstruction

If you have had skin cancer removed from your eyelids, you may require reconstruction. When skin cancer is excised, it can impact the natural shape of your eyes and cause you to lose tissue that is valuable to the aesthetic appeal of your face. Board-certified oculofacial plastic surgeon Dr. Caroline Vargason can help reconstruct your eyelids after skin cancer to restore them to their original appearance.

What Is Skin Cancer Reconstruction?

Skin cancer reconstruction is a surgical procedure performed after skin cancer removal. It is typically performed within 2 days of the skin cancer being excised. When skin cancer is removed, additional tissue surrounding the area is also removed and can impact your facial features. Skin cancer reconstruction allows a trained reconstruction surgeon to repair the areas where the cancer was removed.

How Is Skin Cancer Removed

If you have skin cancer along the eyelids or an area around the eyes, the first step is to have the cancer removed. Most cancers are removed by a Dermatologist using Mohs surgery, in which the tumor is removed as well as a small area around the tumor. The area around the tumor is then examined for cancer cells. If none are found, the procedure is complete. If cancerous cells are found, additional tissues are removed until no cancer cells are found.

Mohs Surgery at NAVA Face & Eye

About Dr. Vargason

Board-certified Dr. Caroline Vargason established Nava Face & Eye to provide patient-focused Oculofacial Plastic Surgery care to the Boise community. As a plastic surgeon, she has spent years performing reconstructive surgeries, helping patients enhance the aesthetics and function of the areas around their eyes. She attended UCLA for medical school and then went on to complete her residency in Ophthalmology at Vanderbilt Eye Institute, and then was handpicked for a prestigious fellowship at the Cincinnati Eye Institute. Dr. Vargason has worked on complex reconstruction cases for patients of all ages. Her meticulous attention to detail and artistic eye has led to her continuously achieving life-changing results for her patients. If you are interested in surgery with Dr. Vargason, contact Nava Face & Eye to schedule a consultation.

Mohs Reconstruction Before and Afters

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How Skin Cancer Reconstruction Is Performed

The exact steps of your procedure will vary based on the amount of tissue missing, the laxity (looseness) of the tissue, and the location of the cancer. Some other factors include if the tear duct system has been impacted.

Your surgery will be performed within one to two days after the cancer has been removed. The primary goal of the surgery is to restore eyelid, brow, and facial function while also reconstructing the features. Skin can reconstruction can:

Restore your natural features
Help reconstruct areas missing tissue
Be performed within 2 days of your original procedure
Restore function impacted by your surgery
Ensure your eyelids are able to open and close

Your Recovery

After the procedure is completed, you will be able to return home to recover. There are a variety of procedures that may be required. You will receive specific instructions for recovery after your procedure. Some patients may be required to wear an eye patch for 1-3 days to help protect the eye and encourage healing. There may be some bruising and swelling around the eye, which can last for one to two weeks. You should avoid strenuous activities, including heavy lifting, for one week following your procedure.

Risks of Skin Cancer Reconstruction

As with any surgical procedure, there is always some level of risk. When skin occurs in the face, it can impact the surrounding tissues. When the cancer and the surrounding tissues are removed, it can lead to permanent scarring.

After the cancerous tissue is removed, Dr. Vargason will need to replace those tissues using reconstructive techniques. Most reconstruction procedures are able to decrease the size of the scar, although traces of it may still be present.