Skin Cancer

With skin cancer rates steadily increasing, reconstructive surgeries are becoming increasingly common in the West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens area, especially when the cancer is detected in a cosmetically sensitive area such as the facial skin. This method is used to improve the appearance of the affected area following cancer treatments. Skin cancer reconstruction can reduce the appearance of scarring while providing a more natural-looking skin contour.

Is skin cancer reconstruction right for me?

Treatment of skin cancer frequently requires surgery to remove the cancerous growth. Skin cancer reconstruction surgeries are performed to reduce the negative cosmetic impact of this cancer treatment, improving the appearance of scars and restoring natural-looking contours to areas impacted by the tissue excision. This method can be used on almost any area of the body; common treatment areas include parts of the face such as the nose or ears. Most West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens area patients who have undergone surgical excision of skin cancer growths can undergo this reconstructive surgery technique.

How much does skin cancer reconstruction cost?

Because the extent of surgical reconstruction needed varies significantly from patient to patient, the costs also vary significantly. In most cases, reconstructive surgeries such as these are covered by health insurance, particularly if the skin cancer excision itself was covered by your insurance. If you have concerns about the costs associated with your specific surgical plan, Dr. Kapp would be happy to discuss them during your consultation visit.

How involved is the skin cancer reconstruction procedure?

Skin cancer reconstruction techniques vary considerably from patient to patient depending on your individual condition and needs, and in particular, how much tissue has been removed in order to treat the cancer. In some cases, scar revision surgery is sufficient. In other cases, skin, cartilage, or soft tissues must be transferred from a donor site located elsewhere on the body to rebuild the tissue lost to cancer treatment. During your consultation, Dr. Kapp will assess your situation and discuss the intended procedure in detail. Some skin cancer reconstruction procedures can be performed with local anesthesia, while others require general anesthesia, and the surgery may take as little as 30 minutes or as long as three hours.  Often times skin cancer reconstruction can be accomplished through pixie surgery or pixel surgery using small grafts called pixie grafts.

How long is the recovery after skin cancer reconstruction?

Following reconstructive surgery, the treated area is covered in gauze and bandages. Many West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens area patients are able to return to work within a day or two, while others take up to a week to recover from skin cancer reconstruction. During this time, some degree of discomfort, swelling, bruising, or itching may be experienced. The sutures are generally removed about a week after the surgery.

What should I do next?

If you are looking to restore your appearance following skin cancer surgery, skin cancer reconstruction surgery may be right for you. Call Dr. Kapp today at (561) 833-4022 or fill out our online form for your consultation.