Surgery Plastic Surgery Reconstructive Surgery Reconstruction After Skin Cancer Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Before and After Photos By Natalie Kita Updated on February 09, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by William Truswell, MD Medically reviewed by William Truswell, MD Facebook LinkedIn William Truswell, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. He is president of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Nick Blackmer Fact checked by Nick Blackmer LinkedIn Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact-checker, and researcher with more than 20 years’ experience in consumer-oriented health and wellness content. Learn about our editorial process Print After surgery to remove skin cancer, you may have many concerns, one of which is probably how you will look. This is especially true if the surgery was performed on a prominent and important area like your face. Reconstructive plastic surgery after skin cancer is a delicate and specialized type of surgery, and it is important to ask a lot of questions and pay close attention to what your healthcare provider has to say about your options. Jose Luis Pelaez / Getty Images Your dermatologist or Mohs surgeon (whoever has performed your skin cancer excision) may be able to complete your reconstruction at the time your lesion is removed, or he may refer you to a plastic surgeon for your reconstructive surgery. This gallery contains before and after photos that may be graphic and/or unsettling. The before pictures have been taken after Mohs surgery to remove cancerous lesions from the face. The after pictures show results after reconstructive surgery to repair the defects left behind after the cancer was removed. Cheek and Eyelid Defect Reconstruction This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Dr Jacono - Patient #1 Reconstructive surgery performed by New York board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Andrew Jacono, MD, FACS. Photos © Andrew Jacono, MD, FACS This patient underwent a neck transposition flap, and forehead and cheek rotation flap procedure to close this large defect. Upper Lip Defect Reconstruction This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Photos © Andrew Jacono, MD, FACS This patient underwent a bilateral transposition flap, borrowing cheek skin to reconstruct the upper lip. Multiple Staged Nasal Repair This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Photos © Andrew Jacono, MD, FACS This defect required a two-staged surgery using a pedicled (stays attached to the donor site) paramedian (from above the inner corner of the brow) forehead flap. The second stage involved sectioning (separating) the flap attachment. Lower Lip Reconstruction This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Photos © Louis DeLuca, MD, FACS This 76-year-old woman had an extensive defect involving her lower lip following removal of a squamous cell carcinoma. A lip advancement flap procedure was performed. The after photo shows an excellent result with reestablishment of the lower lip continuity and minimal restriction in her mouth opening. Nasal Tip Reconstruction This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Photos © Louis DeLuca, MD, FACS This 52-year-old woman had a squamous cell carcinoma removed from the right side of her nasal tip. A bilobed flap procedure was performed. The after photo shows the patient’s result six months after surgery with no distortion of her nasal anatomy. Nasal Sidewall Reconstruction This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Dr DeLuca - Patient #3 Reconstructive surgery performed by Louis DeLuca, MD, FACS, of Boca Raton, FL. Photos © Louis DeLuca, MD, FACS This 67-year-old woman had a squamous cell carcinoma removed from her upper nasal sidewall. A bilobed flap procedure was performed. The after photos show the patient immediately following surgery and again six months post-operative with no distortion of her nasal anatomy. Nose Reconstruction This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Photos © Douglas S. Steinbrech, MD, FACS The patient had basal cell cancer on his nose which was removed via Mohs surgery. Reconstruction was achieved using a bilobed local rotation advancement flap procedure, meaning that the skin was brought together and rearranged on the nose using a two-lobed flap. That way the contour of the nose itself would not be interrupted or unnaturally distorted. Forehead Reconstruction This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Photos © Douglas S. Steinbrech, MD, FACS The patient had squamous cell cancer on her forehead which was removed via Mohs surgery. Reconstruction was achieved using a local advancement flap procedure. The skin was brought together and rearranged above the brow in a special way so that the brow itself would not be interrupted or unnaturally elevated. The post-op photo was taken at seven days, in the early stages of healing. The scar will fade significantly over time. Upper Lip Reconstruction This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Photos © Douglas S. Steinbrech, MD, FACS The 28-year-old patient had squamous cell cancer above his top lip which was removed via Mohs surgery. Reconstruction was achieved using a T-pattern (also called an “O to T flap”) complex closure, meaning that the skin was brought together and rearranged above the red (vermillion border) of the lip so that the lip itself would not be interrupted or bunched. Reconstruction Above Lip This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Photos © Jacob D. Steiger, MD Reconstruction was achieved using a lip advancement “island” flap procedure (also known as an “island pedicle flap”) wherein the flap remains attached to the donor site only via its blood vessels. Forehead Reconstruction This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Photos © Jacob D. Steiger, MD Reconstruction was achieved using a forehead advancement flap procedure. Paramedian Reconstruction This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Photos © Jacob D. Steiger, MD Reconstruction was achieved using a paramedian forehead flap procedure, in which the flap is taken from a section of tissue extending vertically upward from just above the inner corner of the brow. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Tolkachjov SN, Brodland DG, Coldiron BM, et al. Understanding Mohs micrographic surgery: a review and practical guide for the nondermatologist. Mayo Clin Proc. 2017;92(8):1261-1271. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2017.04.009