Mohs surgery or other removal of cancer from the face, head or neck may involve significant soft-tissue loss and damage to facial structure.

The Washington University Facial Plastic Surgery Center provides patients expert reconstructive care by board-certified, fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeons.

As leaders of academic medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, we offer the latest reconstructive techniques, including skin grafting and complex facial flaps, to help restore form and function after cancer removal on the face, head and neck.

Patients are seen by our trusted surgeons after a malignant lesion has been removed by his or her Mohs or cancer specialist. You may be referred to by your treating physician, or you may self-refer.

Reconstructive surgery is typically performed the day following Mohs surgery, but for some patients, surgery can be performed the same day. In complex cases performed under general anesthesia, Drs. Branham, Chi and Spataro complete the reconstruction while working in tandem with the cancer-removal surgeon as part of a single procedure in the operating room.

After successful reconstruction, patients should follow up with his or her dermatologist to monitor for cancer recurrence or suspicious lesions. The earlier skin cancer is diagnosed and treated, the more successful complete removal and reconstruction is.

If you have concerns about skin cancer, you should be evaluated by a dermatologist specializing in cancer.

For learn more about skin cancer and the Washington University specialists who treat this disease, go to Washington University dermatology.