| | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 15 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 15 | I had a "submental island flap" performed as part of the reconstruction from my hemi-glossecotomy on January 21, 2011. All is good except there is significant hair growth on my tongue. According to the surgeon the submental island flap is a relatively new procedure and he is suggesting a follow up laser surgery under general anesthesia to deal with the hair growth. Does anyone have experience with this or even heard of it?
Craig
Male Real Estate Broker 57
Dx SCC 12/17/2010
Hemi-glossectomy and Selective ND 1/21/2011 T2N0
Submental island flap
NG out 1/25/2011
ND Pathology 34 nodes out, all benign
Non Smoker since 1984 moderate alcohol consumption
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | Craig, I had hair growing on my fibular flap as they used tissue from my leg. I have hairy legs so I used to joke I could braid the hair in my mouth  Anyway, I'm not sure about the submental island flap, but I'm 2.5 years out of surgery and no longer have the hair growth on the flap. I was told however that the hair growth is a good sign that the flap is healthy. Hope that helps, Eric
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 531 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 531 | When Ron had his surgery and had his flap from his right thigh I never realized the hair was on it and we joked to his dr and to him that if he started cleaning himself he was getting that hair lasered off!
CG to Ron
Out of Pain 4/3/13
4/12-lung and under chin growth no treatment
1/13/12 lung biopsy
6/11 recur 6/30 resection #2 Clear margins
Clear 12/10
Surg 5/13/10 neck dis/nodes part gloss/flap R thigh all teeth out
RAD 30 8/10
DX 4/2/10 "Oral Cavity" T3NOMO
12/28/07 Non Hodg Lymph remission 7/08
passed away 4.3.15, RIP Ron, you are greatly missed
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 |
Craig
I haven't had the laser procedure you are looking into. Radiotherapy following tongue flap surgery destroyed any hair growth on my tongue flap and also the possibility of anything living on it ever again.
Hope the laser works for you
Karen
46 yrs:
Apr 07-SCC 80% entire tongue removed,T4N1M0
Neck/D,Jaw Split, Trache 2 ops,PEG 3.5yrs
30 x rad,6 x Cisplatin,
30 x HBO
Apr'08- flap Recon + ORN Mandibulectomy
(hip bone to reconstruct jaw)
Oct'08 1 Plate out-jaw
Mar'09 Debulk flap
Sep'09/Jan&Nov'10/Feb&Jun'11/Jan&Jul'12/Oct'13/April'14-More surgery
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Craig They used my inner wrist skin to graft the flap so there was a patch of bare skin with only some hair, but like Karen, I had radiation afterwards so that nuked any hair. Interestingly enough, most of the studies I found on the submental island flap, were about how great it was that they grew hair. Example: Hair-Bearing Submental Artery Island Flap for Reconstruction of Mustache and Beard I know laser surgery is used by women all the time to remove unwanted hair but otherwise can't help. IMO, go for it. Charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 15 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 15 | Thanks everyone. Fortunately I dodged the radiation bullet for now. Clean margins and no Met in lymph nodes makes me fel very lucky. The "hair" challenge is that the flap was part of my beard and is quite coarse and bothersome. I have a followup on March 1 so I will let you know how that turns out.
Craig
Male Real Estate Broker 57
Dx SCC 12/17/2010
Hemi-glossectomy and Selective ND 1/21/2011 T2N0
Submental island flap
NG out 1/25/2011
ND Pathology 34 nodes out, all benign
Non Smoker since 1984 moderate alcohol consumption
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 179 "OCF Down Under" Senior Member (100+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 179 | Hi Craig,
a member of my cancer support group had the hair on his flap lasered off and was very happy with the result. Good luck with the treatment.
Minh
35 Yrs old
03/10 SCC T1-T2
Partial Glossectemy end March - margins not clear enough.
While waiting for resection - cancer returned,2 new cancerous lumps
Re-section End May & flap from cheek attatched. Margins clear.
Mid June - 4 teeth out
Mid July -32 Rads and 3 Cisplatin
6th Sept 10 Finished Treatment!!
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