Skin care post excision of BCC on side of nose

when it was healed and I had had my 6 week post op consultation with Consultant and he agreed it was time to moisturise and masage, I used bio oil.  He told me vaseline, the old fashioned Nivea in the blue tin or bio oil. I was then told I could start and use my normal make up creams etc but remember to use lashings of Factor 50 sun protection. I use No 7 facial sun cream factor 50 in the white tube with yellow top, it is brilliant.  Are you having skin graft surgery or just normal excision. x

Thank you for your reply. I don't know yet what exactly they are going to do. All I know is that I am seeing a plastic surgeon who will decide on the day he does the excision what he needs to do to get the best outcome. My appointment isn't until the end of November, so it feels a long wait.

Hi. I have just had mohs surgery to remove a bcc. How big is your bcc. The reason i ask is on my face mine looked small but resulted in 20 stitches on my facebip to my inner eye. Healing well,im using whire parafin oil, but been recommended  to use kelo cote soon.

Hope uou get sorted soon. I was so worried.

Hello, my BCC is infiltrative and the scar after biopsy is about the size of a 5 pence piece but very irregular. My biopsy was 4 weeks ago and it's fully healed. Before then it had scabbed and bled for over a year and wouldn't hear and gradually increased in size. I am concerned as to how big the scar will be as they want to get 4mm clearance. Not sure how deep it is. I've been offered excision but don't know how they will close or whether I'll need a skin graft or flap. They will tell me when I see the maxillofacial surgeon at the end of November.

I'm trying not to get anxious about it as it's still a long time to wait but I can't stop thinking about it. 

I hope you heal well and it would be good to hear how you get on with kelo Cote, not heard of that. I'm massaging my biopsy scar with vaseline but not quite sure why since it's going to removed eventually. 

Hi my bcc was also infilitrative. I also went to maxillofacial who explained they take a 4mm margin out to clear the margins. He was going to cut right underneath my eye socket and down the side of my cheek, it really made me anxious too. I decided to have mohs surgery i could not wait any longer.

I know how worrying it is. its easy to say try not to worry but hard not to.

Did you have a 4mm punch biopsy taken,i must say mine healed well but like you say they will cut it out again.

I was surprised though how big the bcc looked on my face.it was hardly noticeable.

I wish you the best of luck and hope all goes well.

Thank you for your reply. 

I only have the choice of Mohr's if they can't get clear margins. I am feeling increasingly anxious as  to how big the scar is going to be, but must stop thinking about it as it's not for another 5 months. I have been told that my surgeon can work wonders with noses, so I holding onto that.

Did you end up going privately? 

I hope your healing journey goes well. Keep me posted. 

Hi, yes i ended up going privately for mohs surgery. Its healing nicely had my stitches out last week (20) stitched right up to my eye. It was a shock how many stitches, as the bcc on my cheek didnt look big at all, it was infilitrative.Hope you are ok. Mine was itching like mad just before surgery.

Hello Lill,

I can understand how anxious you must feel whilst waiting. Rest assured that your surgeon will perform a skilled and super op for you. Whilst waiting until November you could occupy yourself with health care such as dental appointments if needed so that they are out of the way; a break away for a few days to build yourself up etc., remembering that you will be advised not to bend down for about 2 weeks following your op. to aid healing.

In the dermatology clinic I was initially offered a skin graft for a 7mm infiltrative Bcc on the tip of my nose and waited 15 months for the op. However during the MOHS op the surgeon decided to do a pedicle island skin flap. 

I assumed that the area would heal as a normal beautifully stitched suture line for the full length of the nose.  It would be good to ask how your post op area will heal and for how long. 

I was given 5 days of antibiotics and 2 nurse led appointments to check on the exposed wound ( could also phone in for advice etc ) which healed by scabbing, a lovely black eye and with Vaseline applied twice daily and 11 weeks following is doing well. Extra care for the skin flap area to keep dry and moisturised etc..

I wish you well. This is a good and supportive forum with lovely people.

Thank you for your reply. It sounds very complicated your treatment, a pedicle island skin flap, not sure what that is.

I have no idea what they are going to do to mine. All I know is that he's a maxillofacial surgeon who specialises in noses and ears and is held in high regard. The person on the patient helpline was very reassuring and said the surgeon would decide what to do on the day.

I'm pleased that after 11 weeks yours is  healing well. How are you feeling emotionally?

Hello Lill,

It’s took a good few weeks to adjust to the effect the op had on my appearance even although I was relieved that the BCC had been removed. However as everything showed signs of healing and the nose more comfortable and being supported by the visits to the outpatient dept I’m feeling confident that I’ll get there and know that in time the scar will fade. 
Also treating myself to a bit of retail therapy helped!

Take care.