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Mohs Micrographic Surgery Pearls for the Nose and Lips
Evan Stiegel1, Brian Leach2, John G Albertini3,4
1Wilson Dermatology Clinic, an Affiliate Practice of the Skin Surgery Center, Wilson, North Carolina.
Background:
Failure to perform Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) meticulously on the nose and lips can lead to larger defects and tumor recurrence, which can have aesthetic and functional repercussions for patients.
Objective:
To review pre-, intra-, and postoperative techniques and pearls for performing MMS on the nose and lips to optimize outcomes.
Materials And Methods:
Technical nuances and pearls cultured from the authors' own practice, those acquired from mentors and colleagues, and information identified from the literature are discussed to provide a logical approach to performing effective MMS on the nose and lips.
Results:
When performing MMS on the nose and lips, sound preoperative preparation, precise surgical technique, and particular attention to reducing false-positives and false-negatives while harvesting Mohs layers enhances the fidelity of the MMS procedure, minimizing defect sizes and reducing tumor recurrence.
Conclusion:
Refining Mohs technique on the nose and lips allows more effective performance of tumor extirpation, improved microscopic evaluation, and more conservative reconstruction, leading to better patient outcomes.
