A consultation is the starting point for skin cancer reconstruction. We meet with you to review your condition, discuss options and answer any questions you have. We then develop a plan for reconstruction based on the cancer type, stage and location — and your personal preferences.

Patients typically come to us through a referral from a dermatologist or other specialist.

Our plastic surgeons are experienced in both routine skin cancer removal and complex surgeries that involve a multidisciplinary team.

We surgically remove skin cancer by removing thin layers of skin to minimize damage to surrounding tissue. The surgeon immediately sends it to a pathologist, who freezes it for analysis. They continue this process until the cancer is entirely removed.

When needed, we use reconstructive techniques to repair the skin after surgery, including:

• Skin grafts: A skin graft is a section of skin taken from another part of your body and secured over the surgical wound with tiny stitches. Over time, blood vessels grow into the new tissue to support it.
• Skin flaps: A flap is similar to a graft, but the tissue is connected to a blood supply to promote healing. Your surgeon may reposition a flap from a nearby area with its blood vessels intact or transplant it from another area where scars are not visible and the tissue is more easily spared. When transplanting a flap, your surgeon uses microsurgery to attach the blood vessels in the flap to those in the new location.

We perform minor skin reconstruction surgery in our clinic using a local anesthetic to numb the area. More extensive reconstruction surgeries are done in an operating room under general anesthesia.

After surgery, you may have redness, soreness and fluid drainage at the incision site. Our team gives you instructions for caring for the wound and tells you when you can resume usual activities. We also track your recovery with routine follow-up visits. If needed, we may coordinate a referral for home health care to help you recover.

It may take a year or longer for your incision lines to fade. Your surgeon will do their best to minimize scarring, but it’s common to have some permanent differences in your skin.

As you recover, it’s important to avoid sun exposure, which can cause scars to become raised or dark in color. Protecting your skin from the sun allows for maximum healing and reduces your risk of another skin cancer.