Patients with skin cancer may undergo Mohs surgery to remove the cancer.  Often times these patients will be referred to a facial plastic surgeon for defects located on the face, head or neck.  Sometimes the cancer cannot be removed through Mohs surgery and the facial plastic surgeon will remove the cancer and perform the reconstruction. 

The extent and type of reconstruction will be determined by location and size of the defect that is left after removal of the skin cancer.  The defect is reconstructed using the surrounding tissues with the goal of achieving an aesthetically pleasing and functionally sound repair.  The ultimate goal of the facial plastic surgeon is to provide patients with a result in which the casual observer will not notice the reconstruction.

The expected recovery time varies depending on the reconstructive procedure that is required.