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Second melanoma removal procedure

Returned to dermatologist today for a second melanoma excision procedure. The point being getting out any remaining melanoma cells, so this involved a larger area of skin being removed than the first procedure, and hopefully the pathology analysis of what was removed today will confirm that everything has now been removed.

As this resulted in a circular wound, the doctor recommended, and performed, what she calls a
"pin cushion incision" to close the wound, which will result in a small circular scar, rather than what would be a much more noticeable line scar.

I wanted to display an example of this here, but oddly, when I search for "pin cushion incision" (including the quotes) I get no matching results at all. I sent email to the doctor to ask if there is some other term that might provide results. I won't see the actual incision myself until tomorrow morning, when I will be able to remove the initial bandage and dressing before I shower.

UPDATE: "Well, there's your problem." So, I had misremembered the phrase. Doctor's nurse responded with the correction: "purse string suture." I decided the related images should not be displayed here after all. If curious, please just do a search for that phrase.

UPDATE 2: As expected, found the suture site to be considerably swollen. Obviously that will go down as recovery proceeds. But at least for now that will be helping me deal with getting new bandages placed properly while looking in a mirror.

Comments

  1. @SDBBQJuly 20, 2018 at 7:18 AM

    Glad the procedure went well. I hope it heals up quickly.

    ReplyDelete

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