Pressure Masks for Facial Scar Treatment after Oncological Reconstruction: Long-Term Patient Satisfaction and Quality of Life

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Introduction With increasing incidence of facial skin cancer, more patients undergo facial reconstruction following Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). Aesthetically unpleasing, thickened facial flaps, and disturbing scars can be treated with a pressure mask with inner silicone lining to help improve functional and aesthetic outcomes. However, data on long-term patient satisfaction and quality of life (QoL) following this treatment are lacking. Methods We aimed to assess long-term satisfaction and QoL of patients who underwent local flap reconstruction following MMS. Patients treated between January 2012 and October 2020 were invited to answer FACE-Q and SCAR-Q questionnaires. Demographic data, skin cancer type and location, type of reconstruction, postoperative complications, duration of pressure mask therapy, daily compliance, and additional scar treatment were collected to explore possible predictors. Results Of 92 eligible patients, 50 responded. Eighteen respondents were male (36%) and 32 were female (64%). Mean duration of pressure mask therapy was 10.20 ± 4.61 months. Patients were 61.14 ± 32.91 months after completion of pressure mask therapy upon participation. Patients whose reconstruction consisted of multiple flaps had significantly worse outcomes in social function ( p = 0.012), scar appearance ( p = 0.045), and scar symptoms ( p = 0.008). A trend of increasing time s

Evidence level

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

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