How Ear, Nose and Throat Doctors Get Rid of Scars

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, exceeding the rates of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined.  One in five Americans  will develop skin cancer, and more than half of those will go on to develop an additional skin cancer.

Removing these cancerous tumors presents certain challenges. It’s difficult to eliminate all cancerous cells and save as much healthy tissue as possible. After the cancer is removed, patients are often left with large “holes” or facial defects as a result. Removing even just a few millimeters of skin has a dramatic, and often devastating, effect on facial appearance.

So, what role do ear, nose and throat doctors have in skin cancer treatment?

Through facial plastic surgeries we can help with reconstructing the area so that it is not evident that any tissue has been removed.

Raleigh Capitol ENT Physicians Also Help With Acne Scar Removal

We’re also well-versed in helping those who have had extensive scarring due to acne or other similar conditions.  Through dermabrasion, we’re able to promote the smooth regeneration of new skin cells.
We’ll take a closer look at skin conditions such as cancer and scarring, examine the underlying causes, and address how we can help you.

What is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs is a surgical technique that enables the dermatologist to remove all cancerous tissue without damaging healthy areas. During surgery, the doctor takes a thin slice of skin from the affected area. It’s then examined under a microscope to see if it contains cancer cells. This process is repeated until the doctor discovers tissue that is cancer free.

Mohs is the perfect technique for treating skin cancers in facial areas where it’s important to keep as much healthy tissue as possible. It’s also a good option for aggressive skin cancers or cancers with irregular or hard-to-define borders.

Other advantages of Mohs include:

• It reduces the need for additional surgery.
• You immediately know the results before you leave your appointment.
• It increases the chances of a cure.
• It can be done on an outpatient basis.
• The procedure typically only uses a local anesthetic.

However, after Mohs surgery has been completed, the process is not over.

Depending upon where the cancer was located, there may be extensive defects or missing skin around the nose, eyelids or cheek. This is where our world-class physicians at Raleigh Capitol Ear, Nose and Throat can help.

Facial Plastic Surgery Following Mohs

Sometimes, Mohs surgeons are able to close the wound with stitches or even allow it to heal on its own. This isn’t possible for extensive, deep cancers. In these cases, facial reconstruction after surgery can transform appearance and restore healthy tissue.

Dr. David Clark and Dr. Kevin Doyle are our plastic surgeons, both of whom are among the area’s most-respected physicians.  They have performed thousands of facial reconstructions involving skin grafts, bi-lobe flaps, and other procedures.

Through skin grafts, our surgeons use healthy pieces of skin from “donor” sites to repair damaged areas. The healthy skin is sewn in place to fill the space left after cancer removal. Eventually, blood vessels grow, and circulation is restored to the area.

A flap procedure is similar, but the main difference is that fat and muscles are transplanted in addition to skin. This allows the area to have its own blood flow, so patients don’t have to wait for blood vessel growth in order for circulation to return.

Other facial plastic surgeries may involve cartilage grafting, rearranging nasal skin and repairing nostril or nasal tip defects.

You can see the amazing results in these pre- and post-operation photos.

SKIN CANCER RISK FACTORS

Of course, the best way to treat skin cancer is to prevent it from developing in the first place. Wearing sunscreen, seeking shade and having regular screenings can all help. Those who are fair-skinned or who have previously had skin cancer are at higher risk.

If you want to know more about skin cancer, you can take this educational quiz created by the American Cancer Society.

Overcoming skin cancer is a victory worth celebrating. Once the cancer is removed, we realize that the journey is not yet over. After your dermatologist confirms all of the cancerous cells have been removed, we’ll be glad to speak with you about how the expertise of our facial plastic surgeons can restore your appearance and enhance your confidence.

How We Remove Acne Scarring

Did you know that an estimated 50 million Americans have some type of acne? And it doesn’t just affect teens.

Often, acne can leave serious scarring, which dramatically affects your appearance. This scarring occurs when hair follicle walls break when the skin pores are blocked by oil. Because this affects deeper and nearby tissues, when the skin works to repair this damage, you’re often left with uneven areas, creating scars and uneven skin.

We can eliminate this through dermabrasion.

WHAT IS DERMABRASION?

This exfoliating process removes your outer layer of skin. As a result, new skin cells are regenerated. These new skin cells appear in a smoother and more uniform manner, eliminating the irregular appearance caused by acne scarring.

We typically perform this procedure in the office, and we use a local anesthesia.

Of course, dermabrasion can be used for much more than acne scarring. It’s also used:

• To get rid of smaller wrinkles
• To remove tattoos
• To remove age spots
• To even skin tone
• To eliminate precancerous areas

This technique goes a long way to restoring appearance.

Raleigh Capitol Ear, Nose and Throat Specializes in Facial Plastic Surgery

While we focus on the ears, nose and throat, our scope of services isn’t limited to those. In addition, we also offer facial plastic surgeries that include:

Rhinoplasties
Blepharoplasties (that remove sagging skin around the eyes)
Flaps and grafts
Chin implants 
Forehead flaps

Our experience and extensive expertise makes us the premier ear, nose and throat doctors in Raleigh. Whether you need to have cosmetic surgery or you need facial reconstruction due to skin cancer treatment, our expert physicians are ready to provide comprehensive and compassionate care.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment.