Tissue repair after Mohs surgery. A plastic surgeon's view

Goals of the treatment for skin cancer include completeness of removal of the lesion, minimal functional disability, and a good aesthetic result. With increasing standards for the quality assurance and the demand for cost-effectiveness, assessment of resource-consuming treatment modalities, especially those involving multidisciplinary approaches, seems appropriate.

The purpose of this study was to review the strategy of management and the approaches to tissue repair following cutaneous micrographic surgery from the plastic surgeon's point of view.

Retrospective review of personal experience based on approximately 800 patients treated between 1989 and 1996 and current plastic surgery literature.

Teamwork with the Mohs surgeon, recognition of the post-Mohs' procedure wound components, and familiarity with reconstructive techniques are essential for the multidisciplinary practice success. The pitfalls of the reconstructive approaches are discussed.