Melanoma Surgery Time

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  • Post
    • February 12, 2015 at 1:58 am
    staylor
    Participant

      I am 3 weeks post op from a melanoma removal.  The area is just below my knee.  The skin graft did not take.  How long will it take this area to look normal and heal?

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    • Replies
        • February 12, 2015 at 5:27 am
        KMick
        Participant

          Be patient, it takes time.  I would say it took more than a year for the donor site and graft site to return to a somewhat normal color.  For me it seemed like it looked so bad for so long and then one day you realize it really looks okay.  The wound site is still a bit funky after almost two years but unless you were staring at my foot it's not that noticeable.  My home nurse told me early on that most surgical sites like mine never return to 100% but she thought I could expect 90%.  She was pretty accurate.  

          • February 12, 2015 at 5:27 am
          KMick
          Participant

            Be patient, it takes time.  I would say it took more than a year for the donor site and graft site to return to a somewhat normal color.  For me it seemed like it looked so bad for so long and then one day you realize it really looks okay.  The wound site is still a bit funky after almost two years but unless you were staring at my foot it's not that noticeable.  My home nurse told me early on that most surgical sites like mine never return to 100% but she thought I could expect 90%.  She was pretty accurate.  

              • February 12, 2015 at 12:30 pm
              staylor
              Participant

                Thanks…I had no idea they were going to take such a large chuck out of my leg.  I'm working on getting some things made to cover the sight.  I am saddened by the look of my leg.  You can see straight to the muscle.  I am back doing things but sleeping is still very uncomfortable.

                • February 12, 2015 at 12:30 pm
                staylor
                Participant

                  Thanks…I had no idea they were going to take such a large chuck out of my leg.  I'm working on getting some things made to cover the sight.  I am saddened by the look of my leg.  You can see straight to the muscle.  I am back doing things but sleeping is still very uncomfortable.

                  • February 12, 2015 at 12:30 pm
                  staylor
                  Participant

                    Thanks…I had no idea they were going to take such a large chuck out of my leg.  I'm working on getting some things made to cover the sight.  I am saddened by the look of my leg.  You can see straight to the muscle.  I am back doing things but sleeping is still very uncomfortable.

                  • February 12, 2015 at 5:27 am
                  KMick
                  Participant

                    Be patient, it takes time.  I would say it took more than a year for the donor site and graft site to return to a somewhat normal color.  For me it seemed like it looked so bad for so long and then one day you realize it really looks okay.  The wound site is still a bit funky after almost two years but unless you were staring at my foot it's not that noticeable.  My home nurse told me early on that most surgical sites like mine never return to 100% but she thought I could expect 90%.  She was pretty accurate.  

                    • February 12, 2015 at 5:48 pm
                    Julie in SoCal
                    Participant

                      Hi Suzanne,

                      I'm now 5 years out from my surgery (skin graft on back & side of my hand) and unless someone is specifically looking for the scar people barely notice it.  Of course if I make a fist and stretch the graft out, you can see the "bite" that was taken out, but this is minor. I would say I'm probably at 95% of "normal".

                      Give it time, you'll get there too!

                      Blessings,

                      Julie

                      Stage 3C: WLE, SNB, LND, HD-INF, GM-CSF, IPI

                       

                      • February 12, 2015 at 5:48 pm
                      Julie in SoCal
                      Participant

                        Hi Suzanne,

                        I'm now 5 years out from my surgery (skin graft on back & side of my hand) and unless someone is specifically looking for the scar people barely notice it.  Of course if I make a fist and stretch the graft out, you can see the "bite" that was taken out, but this is minor. I would say I'm probably at 95% of "normal".

                        Give it time, you'll get there too!

                        Blessings,

                        Julie

                        Stage 3C: WLE, SNB, LND, HD-INF, GM-CSF, IPI

                         

                        • February 12, 2015 at 5:48 pm
                        Julie in SoCal
                        Participant

                          Hi Suzanne,

                          I'm now 5 years out from my surgery (skin graft on back & side of my hand) and unless someone is specifically looking for the scar people barely notice it.  Of course if I make a fist and stretch the graft out, you can see the "bite" that was taken out, but this is minor. I would say I'm probably at 95% of "normal".

                          Give it time, you'll get there too!

                          Blessings,

                          Julie

                          Stage 3C: WLE, SNB, LND, HD-INF, GM-CSF, IPI

                           

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