Ny .I was thinking of you !
Did your original surgeon have any positive news or even suggestions as to what the next step will be ?

I have not heard of z plasty ...i shall google it :-)
Love and light girlfriend xx

It is to improve a scar, but has complications like necrosis,blood clots, I guess it depends how your scar looks.
I have a large scar, but with my special make up, it not bad.
I am a very secure person, and have other horrible scars from my mastectomy, so I do not think I would do anything with mine, but if a person feels that is needed I am all for that.
There is a cosmetic and a functional Z plasty.
I work in a hospital and I have never met anybody that does it or had it done.
But in the burn unit I was told they do this surgery to loosen the scar.

OOPS, my comment was erased, I asked and was told that burn surgeons are the best to preform surgeries for scars.
There is also another type called W plasty, where they remove the scar and they close with another technique.

Thanks Gail! I had to google it too, but I love that you took tthe effort for me, I appreciate it. This was the original surgeon's suggestion--z plasty. (I was hoping steriod shots would do it--but he was rather clear that they might hel but there was no guarantee, he suggested the surgery.)

Deraming, I so appreciate your detailed response. Gave me some insight--because it's not an exaggeration that even though I don't have a visible scar, he may be able to manipulate the scar tissue.

Because I don't have a scar where he suggested the z plasty.

I have scar tissue under the skin--scar tissue covering where I used to have an indent on my nose (my original surgery took my cheek tissue and pulled it over my nose). So there is no scar there--I don't have an indent to my nose and he propesed z plasty to fix it, but as far as I can read, that is to reduce an actual scar.

But I didn't know anything about z plasty when I went into see him, so I didn't know what to ask.

At this point, there's no way I'm going to do it. I don't like this surgeon (he's the original surgeon). he's a true plastic surgeon--spa-like atmosphere, running water, etc.--I believe he was excited to see me back becuase he and his PA believed insurance would surely pay for a second sugery--which is good news for me, but also depressing because my face looks so fucked that insurance can't deny it.

anyway, I'm goign to go back to another another surgeon I saw months ago. I like him just fine, and will see if he can do a procedure where they just cut a line where my indent used to be and scrap away some scar tissue and hopefully make it look better.

LONG POST! Dont' doubt all can read thru it. BLAH. I'm sick of focusing on this shi*t, but I really need to do something becuase it will be a year Nov. 10th, and I still obsess on what happened everyday.

THANK YOU ALL.

P.S Deraming, I meant it gave me insight because it "loosens" scar tissue--and the tissue was pulled extremely tight.

Also, when I asked about recovery time re the z plasty he said a couple of months, but I had been throught the worst so I could handle it. HA!!! Oh, now I'm just complaining...or bragging about my scars. But seriously, this PA is just an idiot.

I will recommend a second opinion with a reconstructive surgeon that works in a cancer or burn center,
They study longer and they do not do cosmetic only like the others.
Also go to a medical site and print the information,this way you can make notes.
It is good you dont have a visible scar.

I've gone to Sloan Kettering. He was my last opinion., I'm not doing it, he's a jacksass.

Hi Ny ,
Don't you just love it when these surgeons say " you can handle it "
Of course we can its only our face they are refering to .....sheesh !!
I am not tarnishing all with the same brush but some of them are so lacking in tact ,you sometimes wanna smack the stoopid outa them .

You need to have complete faith in your surgeon , so I agree go back to the one who you like ,see what his opinion is and take it from there.

I agree with deraming about making notes tho and if I remember right you were the one to tell me to ASK ASK ASK questions .
Stay bright and positive India ,sending hugs your way
Gail xx

I work very close to doctors,and yes one needs to look for #1, if I would have listen to them I would have been dead a long time ago, one had to be an advocate for one self[ get a second opinion.
I like when a doctor tells me "I do not know" and this shows his honesty. Lets face it many are doctors not because of vocation but for the money; and not necesarily the brightes light in the room.

Deraming I hear you girlfriend .
We all need to be vigilent and push to see a specialist if we feel something is not right and if they don't listen SHOUT louder !!

Your strength is an inspiration to us and I for one thank you for sharing .
Hugs
Gail xx

Thanks Gail, have a fantastic day!

Oh, I feel your pain. Why can't they just get it right the first time! I've had 2 scar revisions and I'm still not happy with the way my nose looks. It looks a lot better, but the scar is indented and just looks bad.

What are you considering doing next and how do you find the best doc??

Sending hope to you!
Lisa

Lisa has there been any improvement at all yet ???

I need to keep a diary of everything you all have been through I think ....and shove it in my surgeons face !

Scar revision is on the cards for the first graph and he had the audacity to tell me he had to compromise on the cosmetic outcome of this one, but not to worry he will revisit this one at a later date as well ....nice for my preferences to be taken into account !!!

Sorry NY ...whats the next step for you, have you decided yet ?
You know I am with you girlfriend xx

Hi everybody, thanks Gail,the more I study non melanoma skin cancers, the more I see that for a cancer that is so common in the USA, the least money is spent in research.
Wish you a great day.