Flap after BCG removal

Hi  and a warm welcome to the online community

That's great news that all of your BCC has now been removed. However, I can completely understand why you'd not be happy that you've been left with a lump on your cheek which is causing you discomfort and problems when you eat. Did you explain the discomfort and problems with eating to the nurse?

There are quite a few people in this group who have had BCCs removed and skin flaps performed so I'm sure one of them will be along soon to tell you about their experiences.

If you feel that 6 months is going to be too long to wait for the remedial work to be done it may be an idea to speak to one of the team on the Macmillan Support Line. It's free to call and they can give you advice. 

Thank you latchbrook for responding to my post.  I am seeing the consultant and specialist nurse again on Monday week, so am hopeful to get some definite answers and reassurance.   I was offered counselling by the nurse when I saw her a few weeks ago, but am fortunate to have a supportive daughter and friends so keep telling myself that my face does not define who I am!  

It’s good to know that I can share on here and that people like yourself understand the nagging fears that I try to suppress.

I would add that I think there is still a bit of the BCG left near my eye although the consultant reassured me after the op that he had got it all.  I will bring this up when I see him and really hope I am mistaken.

Thanks again for your message.

Hi  

I'm glad to hear you're seeing the consultant again fairly shortly so that you can get things checked over. I'm sure you'll feel much better and worry less when you feel some progress is being made, whether that's just being reassured that everything's progressing as expected or that a follow up operation will be done.

It's good to know as well that you have a supportive family although it can be very helpful speaking to people on here who can understand what you're going through. 

I had a wide local excision nearly 18 months ago to make sure a melanoma that had been removed from my upper arm had been completely removed. The scar was about 4 inches long and extremely lumpy and bumpy. When I went for my check up 2 weeks later the nurse explained the reason that the plastic surgeon had done it like this and that it would go completely flat.

She was right and now I think that he did such a good job with the stitching that I joke that I'll get him to do the alterations next time I need any hemming done! I know that was a bit different as I could hide the scar with a sleeve while it was healing but what I'm trying to say is that usually these things do turn out alright it's just a bit of a shock when we have to deal with them.

All the best x

Thank you latchbrook!

Hi!  I’m still hoping that someone in this group may be able to share a similar experience with me!  Just to recap - the flap created 8 weeks ago following removal of a large infiltrating BCC on the side of my nose extends diagonally across my cheek from just above my jaw onto the side of my nose.  Whilst the stitches are healing well, the actual flap is very fat and raised. The specialist nurse says the flap contains fat which will require further surgery to excise it, but I will have to wait up to 6 months until things settle down.

It looks pretty gross and feels really uncomfortable.

Has anyone else on here had a ‘swollen’ looking flap?  Thank you.

Saw the consultant yesterday and he is proposing to remove the fat from my flap over the course of probably two operations, the first in about 4 weeks time (just over 2 months after flap created) and possibly readjust my lip shape which sagged to one side following surgery. Very relieved as it has been very uncomfortable and looks gross!

Firstly, apologies for calling it a BCG and not a BCC - senior moment!

Would so like to hear from anyone who has had a flap created which, like mine, is really bulbous with fat and needing further surgery to remove the surplus fat.  Feeling very depressed with myself.

Positive news, I have a date of 20th July to have the first of two ops to remove the fat beneath my flap.  So hoping I may look a little more like my normal self after this.  The itching under the flap has been driving me crazy recently.  Upwards and onwards.....

Hi mynose!!   I am only one week post op, and feeling a little stronger every day, still not back to normal.   I had a BCC on side of my nose taken out by Mohs surgery.   Then plastic surgeon put me back together 2 days later.   Nobody prepared me for the extent of tis flap forehead surgery, not even surgeon!!  I had no idea it would be such trauma to my forehead and nose.  Youch!!    My situation is a little different than yours because my surgeon doesn't say mine is fat and raised.....yet at least.   He says the flap looks congestion (meaning, not great circulation).   Since it is only one week out, he says we'll know alot more in 2 weeks.  Mine is pretty gross too and very uncomfortable.    I am content just staying home for the next week to be honest with you, I don't know how people do it if they have a job that they have to get back to looking like this.    So as far as your swollen looking flap, my surgeon calls mine venous congestion, not swollen.....and I don't even smoke.   He says you see more congested flaps in smokers, so we will have to wait and see.   Sounds like you have already had your flap "detached", which is the 2nd part of the surgery.   Maybe you just have to give it more time, I know time is crawling for me.......but I know the end result will be fantastic!!!  Best wishes......and keep us posted.  (sorry such a late reply, but still trying to navigate this community, and it's not easy).  

Hello Julep, 

I understand how you feel. I had bcc nose tip and forehead flap in March. I just avoided cartilage graft. Everyone underestimated the depth of my 2 mm pink patch. I had read up on forehead flap but even so was not prepared for the depth and the feelings of being traumatised. 

I found myself talking therapy by way of support. Mine is probably down to too many years of ( then unregulated) medical ultraviolet light exposures to treat a skin condition. I feel cheated as I have had to avoid sun and use sunblock for the last 40years and am still in trouble. 

You understandably feel you had an uncaring rush into the surgery. Perhaps it would help you to know that I found , in the course of my reading around the subject that it seems the surgical repair after the MOHs needs to be done fairly swiftly in order to avoid excessive site shrinkage and to achieve the best appearance in the end. 

I am still coming to terms with mine. It does not feel like the nose is part of me. The appearance has Improved a lot since those early weeks. My graft has hairs on it from my scalp and is still too pale. The surgeon expects it to improve. My pedicle was severed after 5 weeks instead of the more usual 3 because the blood supply was slow to grow in from the surrounding tissue. I was happy he waited as too early would have been a disaster. My understanding was that the excision was so deep that there was no decent bed of blood supply and drainage to keep the graft alive. That is why the flap with attached life support inside the pedicle was needed. 

Keep your chin up, you have done the worst bit already. You will gradually come to terms with what you are having to go through. Sorry to hear your family support is not what you would have liked. They may be finding it hard or just don’t understand.That is where this site comes in. Well done for getting this far, sending you a virtual hug.