Pictures of Skin Cancer Reconstruction

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.

Female doctor speaking to male patient — 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

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

Dr Jacono - Patient #2 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 bilateral transposition flap, borrowing cheek skin to reconstruct the upper lip.

Multiple Staged Nasal Repair

Patient #3 Reconstructive surgery performed by New York board certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Andrew Jacono, MD, FACS — 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

Patient #1 Reconstructive surgery performed by Louis DeLuca, MD, FACS, of Boca Raton, FL — 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 re-establishment of the lower lip continuity and minimal restriction in her mouth opening.

Nasal Tip Reconstruction

Dr DeLuca - Patient #2 Reconstructive surgery performed by Louis DeLuca, MD, FACS, of Boca Raton, FL — 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

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

Dr Steinbrech - Patient #1 Reconstructive surgery performed by Douglas S. Steinbrech, MD, FACS, of New York, NY — 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 bi-lobed local rotation advancement flap procedure, meaning that the skin was brought together and re-arranged 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

Dr Steinbrech - Patient #2 Reconstructive surgery performed by Douglas S. Steinbrech, MD, FACS, of New York, NY — 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 re-arranged 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

Dr Steinbrech - Patient #3 Reconstructive surgery performed by Douglas S. Steinbrech, MD, FACS, of New York, NY — 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 re-arranged above the red (vermillion border) of the lip so that the lip itself would not be interrupted or bunched.

Reconstruction Above Lip

Dr Steiger - Patient #1 Reconstructive surgery performed by Jacob D. Steiger, MD, of Delray Beach, FL — 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

Dr Steiger - Patient #2 Reconstructive surgery performed by Jacob D. Steiger, MD, of Delray Beach, FL — Photos © Jacob D. Steiger, MD

Reconstruction was achieved using a forehead advancement flap procedure.

Paramedian Reconstruction

Dr Steiger - Patient #3 Reconstructive surgery performed by Jacob D. Steiger, MD, of Delray Beach, FL — Photos © Jacob D. Steiger, MD

Reconstruction was achieved using a paramedian (flap is taken from a section of tissue extending vertically upward from just above the inner corner of the brow) forehead flap procedure.