Failed skin graft following MOHs

Hi, I had a skin graft on my nose, after MOHS and it partially healed.   I had a black scab for a couple of weeks but it was, indeed, healing underneath.    It looked like I was a puppy with a black nose for a while, but all is just fine now.       It is very difficult to be patient with this and it IS upsetting, no doubt about it......   Good luck; I am sure you will be fine, but it IS a difficult time.    After a long time with this black scab, (and don't do it right away, give it WEEKS!), I gently bathed the scab with warm water to see if it would dissolve.    Best of luck.   Give yourself a big hug.

Hi Lattelover,

Thank you so much for your lovely reply.  I was feeling very down today and you have cheered me up no end.  I am indeed a puppy with a black nose.  My husband took me out for a walk in a National Trust Garden today and a nice cup of latte coffee in their tea room, and oh boy did I get some strange looks.  I know people are curious, but I do wish they could be kinder.  I can tell you know exactly what it is like to have a failed skin graft.  It sometimes smells strange, as well, and this worries me, but you have given me hope that underneath it is healing and some of the graft will survive.  I am trying to be patient, but your right it is difficult. 

I can't tell you how much better it makes me feel to know you have come out the other side, and are now fine.  Thank you very much for the big hug, much needed right now.

Big, big hugs right back

Flower garden

Hello there.  I recently had a graft on my nose following Mohs surgery, and I'm having problems. I am so thankful that I found a site where people share their similar stories.

I had my stitches removed 2 weeks ago.  The top layer of the graft is very black, so the graft apparently fully failed or partially failed.  The doctor wants to see me next week, to see if the area somehow improved by healing from underneath or along the edges.  I'm not confident that the result will be satisfactory based on how it looks now.  I'm preparing myself mentally for undergoing a second graft to repair this one (going to a good plastic surgeon).

I'm curious if my doctor neglected some safeguards, like sewing a "bolster" bandage immediately or being careful to minimize bleeding at the onset.  My graft was covered in dry blood 24 hours after surgery when the bandage was removed.

I'm wondering how you eventually did.  I'm hoping that things worked out well for you.

Sincerely,

John

Hi John,

Sorry to hear that your graft wasn't 100% successful, I remember feeling very disheartened and frustrated when mine failed the 1st time (Jan 2018). I went on to have a repeat surgery 5 months ago, which also failed, for the same reasons; failure of the hospital to provide necessary aftercare.

I have now been referred to a different surgeon, at a different hospital and am hopeful that he will be able to correct the mistakes that have been made. It will be 3 years since my diagnosis by the time I have the next surgery, it feels like a never ending journey, but I'm trying to stay positive.

I hope you're given the opportunity to have your graft corrected too.

Best wishes,

Kerry

Hi Kerry,

I'm sorry that your second surgery didn't go as planned.  It sounds like, with lessons learned and with a new doctor, you're on track to get it done right this time.

I'm not confident in my aftercare either.  After the initial surgery, I wasn't scheduled to see my doctor for THREE MONTHS.  However, two days after the removal of the bandage, I made an appointment to have someone clean the dried blood from the site.  Also, four days after the sutures were removed (done by a nurse), I made an appointment for someone to check on my progress.  At that last appointment, my doctor saw me and told me that things are "not going as planned" (i.e., the graft is failing).  I'm seeing him in a few days and am not confident that things are improving.  

As I mentioned before, I'm curious why a sewn-in bolster was not used, and why the bandage was removed only 24 hours after surgery (as opposed to 48 hours, which is common).  I'm also curious why the appearance after removal of the bandage (fully covered in dry blood) didn't raise a red flag.  I've read that hematoma (blood getting into the wound) is a primary cause of graft failure.  

The process for me has been scary and frustrating like yours.  I'm going to insist that a plastic surgeon do any repair work.

Please let me know how things go for you this time.  I wish you the best of luck!

Sincerely,

John

Hi John,

I am very sorry to hear you have had problems with your skin graft. I had two skin grafts on my cheek which very successful.

The same surgeon also did two small skin grafts on my nose and neither of them took. The new skin turned black and fell off but new skin grew to cover the area.  My father also had a skin graft on his nose which failed. Skin grafts on the nose are trickier and not always successful but this may not be due to inappropriate procedures.

The end result almost 2 years later is very similar to the skin grafts in colour but the texture is smoother though slightly indented and flatter than the skin around it. So it was far from being a disaster, though like you I was devastated when it happened.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery

Miranda

Hi John,

I am very sorry to hear you have had problems with your skin graft. I had two skin grafts on my cheek which very successful.

The same surgeon also did two small skin grafts on my nose and neither of them took. The new skin turned black and fell off but new skin grew to cover the area.  My father also had a skin graft on his nose which failed. Skin grafts on the nose are trickier and not always successful but this may not be due to inappropriate procedures.

The end result almost 2 years later is very similar to the successful skin grafts in colour but the texture is smoother, very slightly indented and flatter than the skin around it. So it was far from being a disaster, though like you I was devastated when it happened.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery

Miranda

I am so glad I found this! I too just recently had moh's surgery, and I found out yesterday the skin graft didnt take.  the doctors or nurses didnt tell me what to do.  but she wants to see me every week, or a pic of my nose.  I thankful I read about what to do because they didnt tell me and I didnt think to ask! Thank you MIranda

Hi everyone Just reading all these comments with interest.  In March I had a large skin graft done at the top of my nose under my eye. Skin was taken from down the side of my face near my ear.  I had a plastic surgeon who did this for me under a local so lots of injections.  I asked how many stitches and he said well over 50!!. The dressing was stitched to the wound and on top of that a "scourer" type thing was also stitched in place.  When the stitches were taken out a week later, which was a very long and difficult process, I was alarmed at the result.   A huge scabbed area.  I left it a while then got so upset I emailed a picture to Consultants Secretary who sent it on for me.  He replied, never said the graft had failed, but told me to vaseline it to get the scab off, which I did and it came off.  It still looked a right mess and I saw him again about 5 weeks later. By this time it was getting better and he did say he was afraid the graft had failed, but it hadn't.  He said he wanted to see me again in 2 months time.  By this time it had settled down and I was massaging a few times a day with bio oil as he told me to.  Now 7 months later you can hardly see where it was. Sometimes my eye feels strange but that was because he had to pull the skin so tight and it interferred with my tear duct.  His words with in the fullness of time all will be fine,  I was lucky he is a brilliant Plastic surgeon has rave reviews and his work is so good,.  I know how you are all feeling as I was so tearful as I looked dreadful and thought this is never going to heal.  Friends who I don't see often say they can't tell I have had surgery.  I also had a basal cell removed from around my nostril and upper lip with a skin flap, this has healed well too, but out of the two procedures I would say this awful skin graft has now healed the best.  Don't give up hope, moisturise as you sit and watch tv all the time and eventually I am sure it will come right.  I could see lots of blood under my dressing which I think caused the scab to form as he did say it should not have scabbed. People tend to think these skin cancers are nothing to worry about, but we all know differently.  Hope I have helped in some small way. Please keep in touch xx