@keithl56 I like the way your surgeon prioritized your procedure. Some of them have a way of seeing that things get taken care of when needed. He also sounds like he is on top of your other issues to make this procedure as safe as possible for you. My aunt did not take blood thinners, but any bleeding was quickly contained by ample cautery. Not a pleasant odor, but very effective at controlling bleeding. Her 3 cm circular lesion is filling in with granulation tissue 3 weeks postop with another month or more to completely heal. No graft done and she will have a hairless area that size on top of her head. Better than cancer. I have been forced to learn that appearance isn't everything after surgery resulting in facial paralysis and synkinesis where facial muscle control is permanently changed. It can be hard to accept, but over time you learn to laugh and live with it. Maybe you will learn a good makeup technique to help? And Halloween offers so many opportunities! I carved a right sided facial paralysis pumpkin the first year!