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A facial mass is considered to be any lump or bump on the face or neck. Types of facial masses can include growths, cysts, and tumors. In most cases, they are benign, though some could be cancerous.
Neck Masses are more common in patients who have enlarged lymph nodes from frequent infection. However, anyone can develop a facial mass like a cyst, mole, or growth.
Cancerous growths are more likely to develop in patients who have sun-damaged skin, but cancer can affect anyone. Though rare, it’s a good idea to have suspicious facial masses examined by a healthcare professional to test for cancerous cells.
Facial masses are commonly treated by a biopsy. A biopsy involves taking a tissue sample from the mass so that it may be examined for cancerous cells.
A benign growth can easily be removed by having a surgical excision. A surgical excision is a simple procedure performed with a local anesthetic.
The surgeon uses a scalpel to remove the growth from the skin. The excision requires no stitches or sutures to minimize scarring, but sutures may be used if the growth is considerable.
If a biopsy finds that a facial mass is cancerous, it may be treated surgically through radiation therapy or chemotherapy, depending on the patient and cancer.
Functional Nasal Surgery encompasses any surgery that treats chronic conditions that affect the sinuses. Some patients experience frequent nasal congestions and sinus infections due to the shape of the inside of the nose. Functional nasal surgery changes the inside shape of the nose to relieve those conditions.
Patients in good health, who experience frequent or chronic sinusitis and nasal congestion may benefit from functional nasal surgery. A deviated septum or enlarged nasal turbines are anatomical issues that could cause these chronic conditions.
Both these structures inside the nose can cause issues with the sinuses. Functional nasal surgery is for patients with these anatomical conditions who want relief without having a more invasive procedure like a rhinoplasty.
There are several kinds of functional nasal surgery. Two of the most common are septoplasty and nasal turbinate reduction.
Both these procedures are minimally invasive and are often performed as outpatient procedures. In addition, incisions are made inside the nose, so there is no visible scarring.
Sometimes, endoscopic nasal surgery may be viable. This technique requires no incisions.
Mohs surgery is a technique for treating skin cancer on the nose. While effective, this technique can leave the nose with visible signs where a patient has had tissue removed.
Mohs surgery involves removing layers of skin and testing it until there are no more cancerous cells seen in the tissue. When the surgeon needs to remove many layers, it can leave what looks like a hole in the nose.
While this is not harmful, some patients are uncomfortable with the appearance of this. Reconstructive Mohs surgery can help these patients feel more confident about their appearance.
Mohs reconstructive surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, and typically happens a few days after Mohs surgery. The surgery itself can be performed using a skin graft or local flap.
A local flap is made from surrounding tissue on the nose to close the wound. This method is viable if the lesion from Mohs surgery is small enough. However, a skin graft may be used from skin somewhere else on the body if it’s bigger.
The surgery may also be performed as a staged procedure that begins the same day as Mohs surgery. To do this, the surgeon places an expander under the skin, typically on the forehead, in order to grow more skin which will cover the lesion from the surgery. Since the skin needs time to grow, the surgery takes place over at lease 2 sessions.
Scar revision is a reconstructive surgery that reduces the appearance of scars. These scars can be from a variety of previous injuries or previous surgery. Reducing the appearance of the scarring can help patients feel more confident.
Scar revision is for people with scars who are unhappy with their scars and want them removed. These may include hypertrophic scars and keloids, which are raised. Patients may also have scarring that causes discoloration, or ones that restrict movement. No matter the imperfections, our specialists in reconstructive surgery at Specialty Care Institute can help you achieve your desired appearance.
Scar revision surgery varies from patient to patient. It depends on the kind of scar, and some may not need surgery at all.
Instead, you can apply a topical treatment, in the form of a prescription gel, over the scar. In other cases, non-invasive injections can be used, either in dermal filler injections or steroid injections that reduce collagen formation.
Other methods include dermabrasion, light therapy, chemical peels, and skin bleaching, which can help with discoloration caused by scarring. In addition, your doctor may use a method called tissue expansion for tissue loss from burn scars and previous skin grafts.
And, sometimes, a layered incision closure can help minimize the appearance of a previous incision that healed poorly by creating a new incision and closing it through one layer of skin at a time. However, it may take a combination of scar revision techniques before your surgeon achieves the best results for minimizing your scarring.
A septoplasty is a procedure that corrects irregularities in the septum. The septum is the part of your nose that separates your nostrils.
When it’s deviated or particularly thick, it can cause health issues. Correcting this irregularity is often the most effective way to treat these problems.
Patients who struggle to breathe due to a deviated should consider having a septoplasty. Additionally, a septoplasty can help reduce the size of an enlarged septum, which can be an issue with patients who have a cleft lip.
Not only can a deviated or enlarged septum make it harder to breate, but it can also case sleep apnea. A septoplasty efficiently treats and eliminates these health problems
A septoplasty is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, although it may be performed as an inpatient procedure if the surgeon expects a more extensive operation and recovery period. The patient may be able to choose between local anesthetic and general anesthesia.
During the procedure, your surgeon will create incisions inside the nose. Through the incisions, they will trim or reposition cartilage and bone as necessary.
The incisions are closed using absorbable sutures that dissolve over time. Your surgeon may also use a tiny splint to hold the septum in place during recovery. Recovery for many patients is often quite fast, with most patients returning to their normal activities within a week or so.
Nasal valve collapse can happen when the nasal valve, the thinnest part of the airway, weakens and collapses inward. A collapsed nasal valve can make it hard to breathe as it blocks the airway.
A related issue is a vestibular stenosis, which occurs when the nasal vestibule, located right in front of the valve, collapses.
Patients at the highest risk for a nasal valve collapse or vestibular stenosis are those who have had a rhinoplasty or other extensive surgery on the nose. Patients with a deviated septum can also be at risk.
Sometimes, a nasal valve collapse can happen simply due to atrophy of the nasal tissue caused by aging.
A nasal valve collapse or vestibular stenosis is best treated through surgery. This may involve a cartilage graft, temporary or permanent sutures to hold the valve in place, broadening the nasal bridge, or a nasal implant.
All these techniques are designed to widen the collapsed airway so the patient can breathe again. These procedures are also minimally invasive, lowering the risk of causing any further issues that can stem from invasive nose surgery.
Deciding which nasal valve or nasal vestibule repair works best for you is mainly up to your doctor. They will recommend a treatment best suited for you based on your age and the extent of the collapse that’s occurred.
