Basal cell carcinoma scar healing in hair

@cb50: I feel your pain, literally! I have had several Mohs procedures over the years but I do have to say, I've personally never found the procedure itself to be painful. That's because the lidocaine does such a thorough job of providing numbness to have no feeling on the scalp or region where the procedure is being performed - I've had it on my scalp, forehead, chest, arm, leg, so nearly everywhere you can think of. The reason most docs prefer avoiding anti-anxiety agents is because they'd like the patient to remain free from the drowsiness, dizziness, confusion etc. such medications could cause - this allows for ease of communication and assessing comfort.

The "football" is probably referring to the type of wound closure the doctor is planning on doing. It's an oval shape that helps prevent puckering of the skin, leaving a smooth result.

I understand your concerns about preserving your hair. This actually happened to my hairdresser a few summers back. She has a photo of the area that required an excision by her work station as she promotes a special sun screen for the scalp - I was surprised as she did retain her gorgeous locks, relying on a "topper", what we used to call a fall, that clipped into her hair, to temporarily cover the treated area until the hair there grew back in, luxurious as ever. However, keep in mind you may not even require an extensive excision. In fact, in my case, I was actually able to fly cross country a few days after my scalp surgery to check on my elderly dad, though I did have a sizable bandage on my head. The hair in the area was largely spared.

To help you relax beforehand I'd recommend practicing this: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/relaxation-technique/art-20045368

Please let me know if this helps, and how you do after the procedure.

@cb50 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I see there have already been good replies to your concerns.

Your doctor sounds pretty caring. Since this type skin cancer surgery can happen anywhere, they become well-versed in being creative while also doing a complete job. Two weeks ago I had MOHs surgery in the area of both eyebrows. They tried to be as least invasive as possible while getting everything out. Now I have "abbreviated eyebrows" and will ask my friend's daughter to help me with eyebrow pencils once the healing is complete.

@grammato3 told you about the football wound, which is pretty common. It is skin saving.
Ginger

I’ve also had MOHS in both eyebrow areas. Luckily my eyebrows really didn’t get affected. I had scars from eyebrow to hairline on each side. That’s when I decided to be proactive and have CO2 laser treatments on my face, neck and chest. That treatment not only gets rid of sun damage to prevent bcc, but diminishes, scars, discoloration and fine lines! I did 5 treatments over an 8 year period and have never gotten another bcc in those areas. I am a person who has had 2-3 a year for 20 years!

This site rocks because you get WONDERFUL solutions. Anyone might work.
I love the football definition. I thought of my breast surgery with that close. Thank you all for your wise and lived ways to cope with this procedure and remain hopeful. I had a real red hair so finding a fall would have been hard. But as i thought about this i thought about a different color looking like it was intentional. OMG! I have NEVER regularly gone to a hair salon. Born with red, curly hair only I was blessed and trimmed my own hair or had my sister do it.
Come back cb50 and keep us posted.

I had a Basel cell treated with radiation because there was not enough skin to cover the surgical wound. I have a three inch bald spot that looks like male pattern baldness.
15 treatments, 10 minutes each, absolutely no pain and no recovery time. I have not looked into hair replacement because I am a 70 YO man and it is no big deal for me. I would probably feel differently if I was a 30 YO female.

Happy that your surgeon was so talented and no scars!
Woman’s hair is a big deal, at any age 🤣 of course, life is more important. I’m 73 and am fortunate to have hair, grey as it is. Just not crazy about pink scars in the line of my part. I was thinking about transplant, but I’m sort of getting used to it.
As I had a massive chunk of deep scalp removed from that back of my head, I guess every one is concerned about getting my stuff out thoroughly, quickly.
Good luck with your decision and potential results!