Flap after BCG removal

Hi to you, Julep, and thanks for replying to my posts!  I’m glad you’re feeling a little stronger - it’s a tough process having your face reorganised!!

Unlike you, I did not have Mohs - I had an excision and graft in one sitting last year but as they did not get all the bcc I had to have a bigger area excised - from just below eye to almost the bottom of nose, down the side. I then had to wait a week for the histology report to come back to confirm they had got it all. They then made a flapby fulling flesh up from just above my jawline to cover the excision.  It’s this flap which, 3 months on is still a big lump full of fat, which they will remove with 2 surgeries starting in 3 weeks.  I don’t think this was meant to happen - certainly it was never mentioned beforehand!

You mentioned having the flap ‘detached’ - I don’t think that’s something that I have or will have done to me. I also read on here about people having pedicels removed, but I don’t think I have one!!  Think I need to ask my Consultant a few more questions! Maybe it’s different with forehead flaps.

Anyway, it’s back for another couple of nights in hospital and then going through the whole process again which you are currently going through - the gradual recuperation! I am going to a Ball on Saturday - have a beautiful dress and been looking forward to it for ages but the whole effect is spoilt by the enormous lump of my face!  I try to remember that it’s not what you look like that matters, but how you are as a person - not always easy when I look in the mirror!

I wish us both good outcomes and thank you again for replying to me - it helps to ‘talk’.

After a postponement of my op, I am now having the first of the surgeries to remove some of the fat under my flap next Friday 3rd August. I am having full anaesthetic and just hoping that the end result will be an improvement on how my face looks at the moment. Feeling apprehensive. No one on here seems to have had this procedure - would love to be able to share with someone who has.

Hi

Good luck with the operation on Friday. I'll be thinking of you xx

Thank you!

I think I should reticle my thread Flap for BCC nose AND cheek!

I had surgery last Friday to remove some of the fat from under the flap on my cheek to nose and having stitches out this Friday, when I will have a better idea of whether there is an improvement to the look of my face!

interestingly, when I spoke to the Consultant just before the op, I said to him that I was unhappy with my lopsided mouth and different shaped nostril, resulting from the flap surgery.  He said that as I had had a micronodular, infiltrating BCC I should consider myself lucky to still have two nostrils!!

i really didn’t realise how invasive this type of BCC was and this now explains why so much of my cheek was enveloped in the flap. And all from one little spot on the side of my nose several years ago. Moral - don’t neglect what may seem insignificant to begin with!

Sorry, reticle, not reticle!!

It’s that wretched word predictor again - retitle!!!

Hi

Glad to hear the operation went okay although I guess you won't really know how successful it's been for a while yet.

By the way, if you want to make any alterations to what you've typed, eg spelling mistakes, just click on More then Edit and then you can make alterations.

Best wishes for this Friday

x

Latchbrook -

Thanks for your good wishes - I’ve found it cathartic to be able to write about my experiences on here and really appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Stitches came out today - think I’ll just have to get used to this face and be grateful that the BCC was removed.  Just got to learn not to worry that perhaps there might be stray cells that could grow, as this happened before when I was told it had all been eradicated. Live for the day!