Question 1

what area of my body will skin be donated for my facial cancer reconstruction? i will need to have skin on my forehead and cheeks excised because of skin cancer. cancer reconstruction surgery will most likely be needed. what kind of preparations are neede

Accepted Answer

After : After excision of a skin cancer on the face, the area can be reconstructed by moving skin right next to the area into the area, also known as an "adjacent tissue transfer" or by covering it with skin removed from a distant part of the body, also known as a "skin graft".   The decision on which to use is based on how large the defect is and a how much skin is available next to it that is mobile enough to move into the area without distorting the normal anatomy of the face.  Skin for a skin graft can come from anywhere else in the body.  A common donor area for the forehead is the extra skin in the neck.

Question 2

what exactly is breast cancer reconstruction? is it safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes.: Reconstruction is a surgical procedure to create a new breast following a mastectomy.  This may be as simple as placing an implant or as complicated as performing a tissue transfer from the abdominal wall or back.  Like all surgical procedures, there are risks associated with the operation, yet most healthy people are excellent candidates following mastectomy.

Question 3

how would recurrent psoriasis affect breast cancer reconstruction?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Where is the psoriasis? Is it located where breast surgery would be performed? Active skin lesions located at the site of surgery would increase infection & poor healing risks. If the psoriasis is located somewhere else, then likely no effect on the surgery. Ask a plastic surgeon & have them examine you.

Question 4

how do surgeons deal with facial asymmetries when performing cancer reconstruction surgery? i recently had a surgery for facial melanoma on my left cheek. i will soon undergo facial cancer reconstruction surgery to restore my physical appearance to an acc

Accepted Answer

Reconstruction : Reconstruction following removal of a skin cancer can be a challenging process. Options include placing a skin graft, using local tissue flaps or free tissue transfer. Local tissue flaps that include hair-bearing skin are planned with care to ensure a natural result. Depending on the location of the cancer, it may not always be possible to have hair-bearing skin in a natural position. Hair is unwanted places can be shaved or removed with lasers. Most defects in hair-bearing areas such as the cheek will utilize local hair-bearing skin so loss of hair may not be a problem. Areas such as eyebrows may be reconstructed with hair-bearing flaps or hair transplants.

Question 5

does breast cancer reconstruction surgery look natural? i have to undergo a double mastectomy for breast cancer and am deciding whether to have breast cancer reconstruction surgery. would the surgery leave my breasts feeling hard and unnatural? i might ch

Accepted Answer

Every : Every patient may have a different experience with implants. The majority of implants are not hard at all. There is another type of breast reconstruction called tram flap reconstruction that does not require the use of implants. Today women can also participate in picking out the color of the nipple to be tattooed onto the reconstructed breast. Some surgeons actually make a nipple using the patients' skin. The majority of reconstructed breasts that I have seen in my practice are beautiful. We have many talented plastic surgeons.

Question 6

breast cancer reconstruction patients: what does it mean when the doctor can't "find the magna site"?

Accepted Answer

Injection Site: Staged reconstruction with tissue expanders involves slowly injecting the expanders with saline (salt water). One type of expander has a magnet adjacent to the injection valve and a special (needle) finder to make injection easier.

Question 7

could you get cancer again if they have a double mastectomy with reconstruction that uses their own tissue?

Accepted Answer

Yes: There could be residual malignant breast tissue in the chest wall or the cancer could have already spread to other organs before it was removed.

Question 8

please tell me, could someone get cancer again if they have a double mastectomy with reconstruction that uses their own tissue?

Accepted Answer

Sadly, yes: A person can have a local recurrence in the chest, be it in the skin, the chest wall itself, or residual breast tissue left at the time of surgery. Also, metastases in other organs can happen despite the mastectomies. Do not confuse recurrence of the old cancer with the development of new cancer of the breast.

Question 9

what to expect from oral reconstruction? my husband is facing oral reconstruction due to oral cancer, and we would like to know what all we can expect to face? how long is this process?

Accepted Answer

To : To answer your question one would have to know the size and location of the defect in question, how the cancer was treated (i.e., surgery radiation, both?), what are his underlying medical problems and general state of health, age and expectations for functional recovery of your husband, and general prognosis for tumor free survival. There are many factors that are considered when recommending a plan of reconstruction and the expectations that you would face and recovery times would vary depending on the technique chosen.

Question 10

how well does breast reconstruction work after cancer?

Accepted Answer

Compared to...: ....Mastectomy without reconstruction, excellent!  when considering breast reconstruction following mast-x, it's critical to understand what the surgery can and cannot do.This is best done by looking at photographs of women who have had the same procedure by the same surgeon. Unfortunately, one will not have the same look, feel, or sensation as before surgery, but it can help many cope w/the loss.

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Doctor answers about:

Cancer reconstruction

A member asked:

What area of my body will skin be donated for my facial cancer reconstruction? i will need to have skin on my forehead and cheeks excised because of skin cancer. cancer reconstruction surgery will most likely be needed. what kind of preparations are neede

A member asked:

What exactly is breast cancer reconstruction? is it safe?

A member asked:

How would recurrent psoriasis affect breast cancer reconstruction?

A member asked:

How do surgeons deal with facial asymmetries when performing cancer reconstruction surgery? i recently had a surgery for facial melanoma on my left cheek. i will soon undergo facial cancer reconstruction surgery to restore my physical appearance to an acc

A member asked:

Does breast cancer reconstruction surgery look natural? i have to undergo a double mastectomy for breast cancer and am deciding whether to have breast cancer reconstruction surgery. would the surgery leave my breasts feeling hard and unnatural? i might ch

A member asked:

Breast cancer reconstruction patients: what does it mean when the doctor can't "find the magna site"?

A member asked:

Could you get cancer again if they have a double mastectomy with reconstruction that uses their own tissue?

A member asked:

Please tell me, could someone get cancer again if they have a double mastectomy with reconstruction that uses their own tissue?

A member asked:

What to expect from oral reconstruction? my husband is facing oral reconstruction due to oral cancer, and we would like to know what all we can expect to face? how long is this process?

A member asked:

How well does breast reconstruction work after cancer?

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