Mohs Surgery in Houston

Mohs surgery has revolutionized how skin cancers are removed, sparing far more skin tissue and leaving a smaller scar while removing all cancerous skin cells. Although less skin is removed, the affected area is typically visible and often requires reconstruction to restore a natural look to the nose, lips, eyelids, or other area treated.

Beauty by Balinger | Christopher Balinger MD

Mohs Reconstruction Solutions

After Mohs surgery, Dr. Balinger can perform reconstructive surgery, transferring skin and other tissue to restore the treated area. Every reconstructive surgery performed after Mohs surgery is unique, and the surgical plan will reflect what area of the skin has been affected and the size of the area.

Mohs Reconstruction Mastery

Dr. Balinger is dedicated to helping those who have undergone Mohs surgery to experience a more confident future by performing a custom reconstructive surgery. He uses the most advanced techniques with a delicate, meticulous approach in this critical restorative surgery.

The removal of cancerous skin tissue is a vital aspect of maintaining your health for the long term, and with Mohs surgery, far less skin is removed. However, sunken or removed areas can be left, and custom reconstructive surgery can be performed to create the most natural look possible.

Mohs surgery reconstructive techniques

Flaps (local)

A “flap” surgery involves transferring tissue from one area to another. A local flap is a technique in which the adjoining skin is stretched to cover the surgical site. This approach may be appropriate if the treated area is relatively small.

Skin grafting

When the treated area is larger, it may be necessary to harvest skin from another body area to transfer and cover the surgical wound. The surgery is performed within a few days following Mohs surgery and requires precision in choosing the donor area for the best skin color match possible.

Staged Mohs surgery reconstruction

In some cases, it is necessary to undergo a “staged” approach. A tissue expander may be placed beneath the skin, close to the treated area, to create enough skin for a local flap. Once the skin has grown in size through the tissue expansion process, the expander is removed and the reconstruction performed.

When under the care of Dr. Balinger, every aspect of your journey is managed with personalized care, compassion, and genuine support.

The surgery – what to expect?

Every reconstructive surgery to repair the wound after Mohs surgery is unique. When a donor area must be accessed for skin grafting, the area will be carefully evaluated to ensure minimal scarring and best match in skin color, texture, and thickness. Once the best area is identified, the tissue will be excised (removed surgically), and then stitched together, and then bandaged. The harvested skin is then meticulously sutured over the surgical wound, where it integrates and becomes part of your natural skin surface. It may take several months to a year for the tissues to settle, fade, and the final appearance to be achieved. The swelling resolves within a few weeks, and an acceptable look is achieved within two to three weeks, improving over the next year to 15 months.

What is recovery like?

The recovery time will vary based on the size of the surgical wound and the surgery performed to repair it. When a local flap is used, the recovery takes less time than when skin is harvested for transfer, as there are two different surgical sites that must heal. You will be provided with full aftercare instructions, and Dr. Balinger is focused on performing surgeries that leave minimal scarring – it is a combination of artistry and surgical technique. Over time, the transferred skin fades in color, and the surgical scar fades, with the restored area becoming less and less visible and noticeable.