This is a common area for skin cancers and needs to be excised (removed) adequately and the post-excisional defect well repaired, to leave the patient with good form (appearance) and function.
\nDuring excision, the underlying muscle and vestibular mucosa (the inner lining of the lip) is also removed to achieve a good result.<\/p>\n

However, in Mr JG, a 56 year old man, who was a regular smoker, the lesion on his lower lip was very extensive.<\/p>\n

$\"Skin$

Cancer marked out with usual resection margins (Figure 1)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

The standard treatment would have involved extensive resection (removal) of muscle and mucosa.<\/p>\n

This is possible and often gives a good outcome, as seen in Miss KW, a 55 year old lady with an extensive skin cancer involving the upper lip and cheek:<\/p>\n

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Figure 2 \u2013 Before Surgery<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Figure 3 \u2013 During Surgery<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Figure 4 \u2013 During Surgery<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Figure 5 \u2013 Four years later<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/p>\n
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Figure 6 \u2013 Four years later<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
In Mr JG, as the lesion was much larger, it was decided to treat the problem with a different approach.
\nThe tumour was excised including mucosa and all submucosal tissue, down to the muscle layer.
\nAt surgery, it was clear the tumour was still in the deeper mucosa (deep papillary dermal layer) and had not gone to the muscle layer.<\/p>\n
The large mucosal defect was repaired by extensive mobilisation of the vestibular mucosa (the inner lining of the lower lip) while the muscle layer was preserved.<\/p>\n
The pathology report confirmed complete removal of tumour.<\/p>\n
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$\"Skin$
Figure 7 \u2013 After surgery<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Figure 8 \u2013 After surgery<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Figure 9 \u2013 After surgery<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Figure 10\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Figure 11\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Skin cancers of the face are difficult to treat – early treatment is best but if the problem is extensive, an expert Plastic Surgeon often helps in achieving a good outcome.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This is a common area for skin cancers and needs to be excised (removed) adequately and the post-excisional defect well repaired, to leave the patient […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2796,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n