Procedure: Staged Nasal Reconstruction with Cartilage Graft after Mohs Surgery
This 54-year-old female presented to the clinic with a basal cell carcinoma skin cancer of the right nostril (nasal ala). She was sent to our office for management of the reconstruction of her nose immediately following the Mohs surgical excision of her skin cancer. She presented for her reconstruction surgery the same afternoon as her Mohs surgery. Her defect involved most of the nostril including the skin, cartilage, and a portion of the inside lining of her nostril. This was reconstructed with two surgeries over the course of three weeks using her own cheek, ear cartilage, and nasal mucosa.
When viewing her before surgery photo, notice the asymmetry and destruction of the nostril created by invasive cancer. Her intraoperative photo demonstrates how she presented on the day of surgery with the defect that required reconstruction. Given the technically difficult and anatomically sensitive nature of this part of the nose, a staged nasolabial flap, ear cartilage graft, and mucosa flap was recommended to her to provide the best possible aesthetic and functional outcome. The two reconstructive surgeries were separated by three weeks to allow for the new blood supply to support the new nasal tissue. Her after photos, only 6 weeks after surgery, demonstrate a restored right nostril with better symmetry and well-hidden incisions. Minor residual swelling and redness of her incisions will improve with time and can be optimized with additional laser treatments.
*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary. This is an actual patient who consented to the use of these photos. Please do not use or distribute the images here without written permission.
