Healing/recovery after basal cell carcinoma removal (on face)

[barkingdogs]

I'm on the waiting list for a basal cell carcinoma removal - it's on my face, near the nasolabial fold. From what the doctor said removal might involve using a small flap of skin to cover the area it's removed from.

Has anyone had this done who can tell me about healing and recovery. I'm not so much worried about the long term scar, it's more what it will be like immediately afterwards, how long it will take to heal etc. It's not in a place where it would be easy to put a discreet dressing if I go out and about.

How long was it before you went back to work for example? How long will it be painful for once local anaesthetic wears off etc

Not the flap of skin, but my DH had a BCC removed from his forehead. The recovery was really easy and fast and although he wasn't at work because it was Christmas he could easily have gone back to work the next day.

Stitches out a week later and now, a year on, there's not even a scar. They've done a brilliant job.

The only thing that was a nuisance for him was having to sleep propped up on a pillow for a few days which he didn't enjoy. Other than that it was completely fine.

Thank you for the heads up (literally!!) about sleeping propped up on a pillow. I'm a side sleeper so that won't be ideal.

Glad your DH healed well and was problem free.

My DF had one removed this way (using the flap of skin). It didn’t look great initially which made them feel self-conscious and obviously they couldn’t use make up to cover it or anything. They were advised to apply Vaseline regularly to aid healing/minimise scarring and did this religiously at least two or three times a day. It also kept the scarring from becoming dry and itchy, which is when it’s tempting to pick apparently.

Now it’s fully healed you’d never know it was done - only by looking really closely can I see a tiny, faint scar and that’s only because I know it’s there, if that makes sense.

I had a BCC removed from the corner/crease between my eye/nose - originally it was going to require a flap skin graft but in the end it wasn't needed because my skin was stretchy. However I had 8 stitches.

I had outpatient surgery (arrived at 2pm left at 2.40pm) and actually only took 2 hours off work (rest of the afternoon). I was able to work at home the next few days. The surgeon removed the stitches 3 days later and replaced with tape for 2 weeks. When I returned to the office 5 days later nobody even realised I had had surgery.

I was office based so went to work the next day, mine Was on my eyelid so very impressive black eye to show everyone.

I have had another 3 since then, no bruising at all.

You cannot get it wet or play sport for about a week I think. It's all over and done with very quickly.

Thank you everyone.

It hadn't occurred to me about not getting it wet ....well, it sort of had but then I've just thought about hair washing which I would normally donin the shower. I'll make sure I wash it that morning and then it will be head over the sink or dry shampoo that week.

Hopefully bruising won't be an issue as it's not near the eye like your initial one was @MinnieCauldwell .

@Lunde I'm hoping that, like you, the flap method won't be needed when it comes to it.

I think I'm just nervous of how it will look for the first week or so when it's freshly done and not relishing the idea of people seeing it. A final scar doesn't really bother me though as I know that will fade in time.

My dad had one on his temple, he came home with a pad stitched on holding the skin graft on his face, had that removed after a couple of weeks & it took about 6 months to have completely healed over, he was left with a dimple as there was no fat under the graft.