After Mohs Laser Facial Treatments?

Hi

I haven't had the treatment that is being proposed but I noticed that your post hadn't had any replies yet. I've searched the previous posts for 'laser facial treatments' but drawn a blank I'm afraid.

Is your surgeon aware of how your face feels at the moment? If not you could arrange to speak to him again before you have to commit to going ahead with the treatment.

Let us know how you get on.

x

Hi ,

I've had very successful results with massage by a physiotherapist. I saw her three times a week for the first few weeks and then gradually reduced the sessions and did them myself. When I say "massage" it was more like kneading and pinching and rolling the scar. So painful that I felt sick the first time. Gradually the pulling sensation and pins and needles and discomfort and numbness has disappeared. It took about 3 1/2 years to get to almost not feeling it anymore. I still feel a certain stiffness in the morning but that wears off quickly.

I have a big skin graft on my cheek. The skin was taken from my collar bone area and is whiter than the rest of my face. The scar itself is hardly noticable now but unfortunately the colour of the grafted area is not going to improve to match the rest.

Laser treatment was not suggested in my case.

How long is it since your surgery and has the wound healed completely yet? 

Take care

Miranda

Hi Latchbrook,

Thank you so much for doing a search as very helpful. Wondering why no one else was recommended face laser tx's to minimize a large face scar?? I'am just wondering if I would be his ginney pig test client?? I also see that perhaps most people have had one cancer face lesion & I had 3 which left me the large scar. Isn't there anyone else who ended up having a large facial scar from cancer surgery & what was done to minimize their scar would be most helpful. This surgeon had also never spoken to me about any possible face massages to due. Perhaps for this skin cancer group I should word my question instead in a few weeks with: "What was recommended for you to due after your mohs surgery to minimize the facial scar? Any suggestions from you would be helpful Ms. Lachbrook. Thank you, CorrinCatt

Thank you Miranda. Helpful to know someone else has had this numbness. I will inquire about massage exercises  as none had been mentioned. It's been 1 month & 2 weeks whereby guess this scar has healed. Very encouraging to hear that your scar isn't much noticeable. Please tell me what you put on it to minimize the scar. Of course we are happy the cancer is gone. Thank you for also acknowledging the tightness as not unique to just me. Can you put some makeup on the graft to blend it in some? 

Hi ,

I've just remembered a few other things that helped. Pulling faces was one! Any facial movement that feels uncomfortable now should be worked on. Build up gradually, winking, exagerating smiles, dropping your jaw, raising your forehead, sucking your lips inward, whistling ... and do it several times a day.

The other thing that made a huge difference was KELO-COTE scar gel. 

https://www.kelocote.com.sg/about/

It is not cheap but as you apply so little at a time, one tube may be enough. You can apply suncream and makeup once it is dry.

Most of the time I don't cover my scar at all. I like to be able to massage it to stop the pulling sensation below my eye that still persists to some extent. I also need to be able to apply sunscreen. Yes, people look at me but I just look them right back in the eye. When I want to cover it I use a Shishedo powder sunscreen

http://www.shiseido-europe.com/product/uv-protective-compact-foundation-spf30/

I hope this helps

Miranda

Hi

There may be others in the group who have been recommended to have the same treatment as you but unfortunately haven't posted about it, just as I'm sure there'll be people who have a large facial scar but not been recommended to have the same treatment as they weren't suitable for it.

As you suggested you could start a new post with a title like 'recommendations to minimize large facial scar' and see if you get any replies or you could use the search bar at the top of the screen to look for previous posts.

If you're at all unsure about the proposed treatment then do speak to the surgeon again before going ahead.

x

Thank you very much for sharing the facial exercises as I will start doing them. They make a  lot of sense to increase movement & decrease tightness/numbness. Very much helpful. Will check into the Kelo-cote gel. I had been using Scar Fade at 40.00 small tube. What ever has successful results of course is worth the money. The scar below my left eye is the most pronounced as sounds like yours was also. Do you or did you experience swelling when you awake in mornings. It takes approximately one hour once up for swelling to go down. Still some swelling by scar running along side my nose all the time. Thank you for being helpful. Catt

Yes, there is still (4 years on!) some stiffness in the morning though I don't see any swelling anymore. There was some in the early days. Generally by the time I have had my breakfast the feeling of stiffness is gone.

My physio told me that all facial grimaces were good to do and that it is normal for there to be some accumulation of fluids in scar area in the morning from being lying down all night.

She also said that skin is very elastic and that you will not do any damage by pinching and rolling the skin. You will need to moisturize after massaging and of course build up the force you use. (I used to watch Trevor Noah videos on YouTube while massaging to distract me!)

Good luck

Miranda

Hi Miranda, 

Thank you for being very helpful. Soon to meet with this surgeon again. If you don't mind perhaps I could chat with you again soon. 

Hi again,

No problem if you have further questions.

You've probably heard it before but I'll say it again anyway, the MOST important thing in scar management is to protect it from the sun. Suncream with a high protection everytime you go out, even if it is just for a few minutes. A scar can burn in a few minutes and cause the skin to thicken and loose elasticity. 

You can continue your outdoor activities but must have an absolutely draconion attitude to using suncream and reapplying it every two hours, especially in the early days, but obviously long term too.

Best of luck

Miranda