BCC on nose skin graft op - how to recover?

Hi RainbowFrantida,

I also experienced very painful whiteheads that came up around the stitching. These are just a build up for grease from using the vaseline. I also found that gentle pressure from a cotton bud before washing would burst them.

I am well on the road to recovery now having had the operation on September the 28 th.

As you say onward and upward. 

Hi Jay Bird,

More good advice! I hadn't really considered that the yellow bits could be round the stitching - my mind simply started to race & I assumed the worst possible outcome (graft failure and back to square one)..... Now that I've stopped panicking, my nose looks far more 'normal' if you know what I mean! :-)

I'm pleased for you that your recovery is going well & I'm feeling more positive than I was yesterday. 

Thank you. 

Hi RainbowFrantida, 

Your welcome, 

I think everybody needs support through this. I have some wonderful friends who have nudged me when my confidence was lacking, especially in the early days. Now I just look at it as I have survived a battle here are my scars.

Mine is not just my nose but also a partial lower eye lid reconstruction but again we are luckier than a lot who who fight this disease. 

If you have any concerns no matter how small or silly they seem don't hesitate to contact me, we are in this together. 

Jay Bird xx

Hi Rainbow Frantida 

I would take advice from the hospital. I am sure all is well especially if it's not looking red, swollen and painful which are usually signs of infection. Let the hospital or your GP practice nurse take a looks at it for you?

Best wishes 

Millise xx

Hi Millise - your nursing background is coming through loud and strong. I'll heed your advice and will contact the hospital tomorrow!

My nose is feeling OK, it's as numb as ever at the tip and doesn't look more red than I remember. It is a bit tickly feeling though. Not itchy as such, just tickly. 

I've taken a photo so I can send it over to the hospital if required. 

Thanks. 

Hello everyone. 

Just to let you know they I spoke to the a member if the hospital's plastic surgery team today. They asked me various questions about how my nose felt & looked and also whether I was feeling well in myself (I am) & whether my nose was painful (it isn't). 

The upshot was they suggested using some over the counter eye drops to gently wash my nose and then continuing to apply my polyfax ointment. 

And if it carried on looking yellow or became painful, I should see my GP for advice. 

Well the good news is that this seems to have done the trick and my nose is looking much better now. 

Hooray!!

Ah Westward - so it's been confirmed that you're special, eh? Fame at last. ;-) Pity it will mean another operation though it sounds as though you're in safe hands & they'll all be very keen to play a part in resolving your rare condition..... Good luck! 

I'm back to work in the morning, working from home for a week to catch up with things before the full force of things hits me! The break has been a good chance to step off the merry go round of life and to reflect on what's really important to me. My conclusion is that I've been extremely fortunate and need to spend more time 'in the present' building great memories of rich experiences, instead of life just passing me by. 

Happy days everyone and thank you again for your wonderful support in getting me through a tough few weeks. 

Thanks also to the MacMillan Community for providing such a superb support network. 

I'll keep checking in.....

This is my first posting, and can I thank everyone for sharing their experiences; it is so incredibly supportive.

I had a large BCC removed from my forehead about 6 weeks ago, which is healing well.  I had another large BCC removed from my nose tip this Monday and am currently recovering at home. The staff in hospital were fantastic, but I was given very little information.  For example, it is only through some searching that I have discovered the hideous looking thing on my nose is a bolster dressing, and not my nose itself!!  I have been keeping a dressing on it as it has been weeping slightly, and is so unslightly.  The dressing on my ear fell off on Monday.  I am back in on Saturday to have the bolster dressing reviewed and, presumably, removed.

The donor site was behind my left ear, which is the most painful bit with wearing glasses.  I am generally very active and healthy but have been surprised just how tired I am.  Many of my friends have been very dismissive of the BCC - this has made it difficult for me to take it seriously myself.  I know it is *only* a BCC but people (who have not had one) seem very dismissive of the impact re confidence/appearance etc.  They also seem to assume that it is worse for women than men (I am male) - my experience is that gender has little to do with it and that the impact of facial surgery is potentially significant, whoever you are, or however old you are.  I have felt a real fraud however, in taking a little time off work and think I really should just be getting on as normal.  Only one or two people in my life have given me any sort of “permission’ to take it seriously.

It has been helpful reading people’s experiences here of recovery too, as I have been told nothing about what to expect.  Thank you all again so much for taking the time to write about your experiences - it is so incredibly helpful to people - like myself - who have not been given any other meaningful, reliable information.

Hi Diand

Welcome to the site. You will be exhausted for about two weeks. I know I was , so please be kind with yourself. I am 10 weeks post op and healing well. Initially use Vaseline to keep the wound moist so it heals well. I applied Vaseline three times a day and after two weeks I used mepitel a silicon dressing that can be left in place for 3-4 days or even longer but I changed mine twice a week and it kept the wound moist but protected. I used mepore dressing tape to stick it down. You can get them from eBay or amazon. 

It doesn’t matter that you are male or female. You are human so please be kind and patient with yourself. You will get there and you are not alone. 

Make sure you rest and drink fresh orange juice to help with the skin healing. If you still feel tired try berroca which will help you. 

Just ignore what others say. They aren’t going through what you are. If you are affected by the way it looks you can go onto changing faces website for emotional support and for make up to cover it. The waiting list for the make up can be lengthy so get referee by your GP soon. 

Any questions or any help. Just shout. Going through this can be lonely but don’t be feeling that way because we are all here for you.

Best wishes 

Millise