Filed under: Middle Age, Misc. Humor | Tags: dermatology, doctor, medical, medicine, plastic surgery, skin cancer
Like many middle-aged women I know, I recently had to get yet another piece of my face removed because I used to lay out on the roof with tanning oil, sauteing myself for future meals made of wrinkles and regrets.
This time, however, it was a basal-cell something or other, and not just a precursor to skin cancer. And, since I’m vain and didn’t want my dermatologist to cut a Franstein-looking chunk out of my face in an effort that may or may not get it all, I opted for undergoing the MOH procedure. In the MOH procedure, the dermatologist/plastic surgeon numbs you up, cuts one layer at a time, bandages you, tests it to see if they got it all (this takes about 2 hours per slice), and repeats the process until they know it’s all gone. This can potentially take all day. It has something like a 99% removal success rate, and these surgeons also tend to leave less scarring.
The process for me was a one-shot deal – we didn’t have to repeat the excision, and it was pain-free. However, there were a couple of things I didn’t anticipate:
First, HOLY SHIT WAS IT EXPENSIVE!! Even with insurance…so investigate before you get your vanity on.
Second, I was the youngest person there by 30 years. The only people my age were the ones helping out their parents for the day. I felt like a toddler.
Third, it looked like a Leper colony had taken up residence in the waiting room. These folks didn’t just have a cute little bandage on the sides of their faces like I did. The men had great, whopping bandages covering their ears, like old, weather-beaten Princess Leah drag queens.
And/or they had giant bandages over their noses and on top of their heads. It was like sitting in the aftermath of the best geriatric bar brawl ever. (I’d post pictures but HIPPA frowns on that, so I didn’t take any. You can Google it, but it’s pretty gross.)
And finally, I had no idea what getting your face stitched up feels like. For the record, it’s weird, and I felt like I looked like Heath Ledger’s Joker afterward (it actually looked pretty good). Since mine was by my ear on my jawline, the internal stitches were deep and right by the jaw hinge. As the doctor was tying the internal stitches, it didn’t hurt, but I could feel her tugging hard – MY WHOLE FACE MOVED.
I finally had to say something: “You know that’s my face you’re pulling on, right?” She replied, “Yep. It’s the face lift you never wanted.” To which I said, “Well, just make sure it’s even.” Afterward, I has to ask: “So is that my future sitting out there? I’m not a big Princess Leah fan.”
“Oh honey, no,” she said. “Those are the guys who’ve had a bump on their nose or scabs on their ears for years, and finally decided it’s not a cut or a bug bite. or their wives finally made them come in. You come in every year, so you’ll be fine.”
You can imagine my relief…so consider this your Public Service Announcement: Go to your dermatologist, even if you think you don’t need to. Chances are you won’t need to have this procedure done, but let’s face it – not everyone can look as beautiful as Ingrid Bergman with a face bandage.
2 Comments so far
Leave a comment
Subourbon Mom 
So true! Thanks for posting it.
My last visit was a blue-ray treatment on my lower arms. Not fun at all. Then I had to wear long sleeve shirts for several days until the dead skin began to peel off. Then I looked like I had feathers on my arms. I go back on Thur to see if all has healed properly. Keeping fingers crossed. So far all my scars have healed properly and are barely noticeable to others.
Wear your bucket hat and keep using sun screen. I hate doing that but don’t want those big slice and dice situations you spoke of. I see them too.
LikeLike
Comment by energywriter October 22, 2019 @ 10:16 pmUgh – that’s awful! They said I don’t need the blue light yet, but I definitely see it in my future. I hope everything healed up fine…
LikeLike
Comment by subourbonmom December 27, 2019 @ 1:56 pm