Name: Eyelid Reconstruction
Brand: Austin Face & Body
Rating: 4.8 (186 reviews)

Diagnosing Eyelid Cancer

Dr. Sean Paul is a highly regarded ophthalmologist in Austin, Texas who is able to diagnose eyelid cancer. Please continue to learn more about the symptoms, risks, and treatments for basal cell carcinoma.

Austin facial reconstruction for eyelid skin cancer

Dr. Sean Paul offers diagnosis and Austin facial reconstruction for basal cell carcinoma patients. As a highly trained oculoplastics surgeon, Dr. Paul specializes in the area of reconstructive eye surgery, focusing on the eyelids and the structures surrounding the eye. Not addressing a basal cell carcinoma tumor could lead to serious health risks, so if you find that you have the symptoms discussed on this page, please contact Dr. Paul.

What is basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and the most common eyelid cancer. It is associated with sun damage and is the least aggressive skin cancer. It is slow-growing and does not spread to the rest of the body. While most basal cell carcinomas can be removed with surgery, if left untreated, these tumors can grow around the eye and into the orbit, sinuses, and even the brain. Basal cell carcinomas are more commonly found on the lower eyelids and almost never spread to other parts of the body.

Sometimes a central ulcer with pearly edges may develop which does not ultimately heal. If left untreated, it will damage structures in the surrounding area. Treatment is by excision, followed by an Austin facial reconstructive surgery. If small, this may be done with local anesthetic injection. If larger, it is usually performed in a surgery center with local anesthetic and intravenous sedation (sleepy and relaxed, but not general anesthetic).

Symptoms

Patients with basal cell carcinomas most commonly notice a reddish nodule slowly forming on their eyelid. The tumor is most commonly found on the lower eyelid, followed by the medial canthus (toward the nose) and can occur on the upper eyelid. Eyelash loss around the tumor suggests that a tumor is malignant. Less commonly, basal cell cancers can be pigmented or are present without any nodule at all. When the tumor does not make a nodule and grows within the eyelid, it can induce pulling of the eyelid (away from the eye). These cases are much more difficult to treat because the edges are harder to define.

Risk Factors

A risk factor is anything that increases an individual’s chance of developing cancer. Although certain factors often influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause cancer. Some people who display multiple risk factors never develop cancer, while others who do not experience any risk factors do. However, knowing your risk factors and discussing them with Dr. Paul will help you make more informed lifestyle and health care choices. Cancer.net details how the following factors can increase the risk of developing eyelid cancer:

Exposure to UV radiation

Sunlight includes both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. UVB radiation produces sunburn and plays a role in the development of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. UVA radiation penetrates the skin more deeply, causing photo-aging or wrinkling. The role of UVA radiation in the development of non-melanoma eyelid cancer is suspected, but not certain. People who live in areas with year-round, bright sunlight have a higher risk of developing an eyelid cancer. So do people who spend significant time outside or on a tanning bed, which produces mostly UVA radiation.

Pre-cancerous skin conditions

Two types of lesions may be related to the development of squamous cell cancer in some people. Actinic keratoses is characterized by rough, scaly patches on the skin that are red or brown. Bowen’s disease is characterized by scaly patches located on previously or presently sun-exposed skin that are bright red or pink. Bowen’s disease in areas not exposed to the sun may be related to arsenic exposure.

A history of sunburns or fragile skin

Skin that has been burned, sunburned, or injured from disease is at higher risk for eyelid cancer. Squamous cell and basal cell cancers more often occur with repeated, long-term exposure to the sun. Melanoma more often occurs with short-term intense exposure to sun.

Fair skin

Less melanin (pigment) in skin offers less protection against UV radiation. People with light hair and light colored eyes are more likely to develop eyelid cancer.

Age

Most basal and squamous cell cancers appear after the age of 50.

Individual history

People with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for developing squamous cell and basal cell cancers. People with rare, predisposing genetic conditions such as xeroderma pigmentosum, nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, or albinism are at much higher risk for eyelid cancer.

Previous skin cancer

People who have had any form of skin cancer are at higher risk for developing another skin cancer. For instance, about 35% to 50% of people diagnosed with one basal cell cancer will develop a new cancer within five years.

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Diagnosis

Individuals with eyelid cancer may experience the following symptoms or signs:

A change in appearance of the eyelid skin
Swelling of the eyelid
Thickening of the eyelid
Chronic infection of the eyelid
An ulceration (area where skin is broken) on the eyelid that does not heal
A spreading, colored mass on the eyelid

Sometimes those who have eyelid cancer do not show any of these symptoms. These symptoms may also be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer.

If a diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma is confirmed by the pathologist, complete excision under frozen section control or Moh’s technique will be recommended. Both techniques require the removal of the tumor until the margins (edges) are negative (free of tumor). Unlike most areas of skin, the eyelids are a complex functional apparatus that require special reconstruction techniques.

Most basal cell carcinomas can be cured when they are small. That is why it is very important to make an appointment with a specialist like Dr. Sean Paul to evaluate your condition and determine the best course of action.

Unfortunately, some patients choose to ignore or deny the existence of these tumors. Those patients allow their tumor to invade behind the eye and become difficult or impossible to remove. In these cases radiation and chemotherapy may be suggested to control or destroy the tumor.

Treatment Options

After your diagnosis, surgery may be required for the removal of the tumor, depending on how much it has spread. Different types of surgical procedures may be used based on the size of the cancer and where it is located. Eye surgery should only be performed by an experienced ophthalmologist such as Dr. Paul, at a surgery center that suits the patient’s needs. Extensive surgery may result in scarring and deformity of the eyelid, enucleation (removal of the eye), and/or may cause problems with tear drainage.

Mohs’ surgery: This technique involves removing the visible tumor and small fragments of the edge of where the tumor existed, and will typically involve another physician as well as Dr. Paul. Each small fragment of the tumor will be examined under a microscope until all cancer is removed. This procedure is most often used for a larger tumor in hard-to-reach place, and for cancer that has come back to the same place. However, it is increasingly becoming a preferred technique for removing an eyelid tumor. After Mohs’ surgery, the patient will undergo reconstructive surgery with Dr. Paul, who is an expertly trained oculofacial plastic surgery specialist specializing in Austin facial reconstruction.

Enucleation: Although rare, it is sometimes medically necessary to remove the eye due to the size and extent of the tumor. Because of this visual loss, a person with one eye may have trouble with depth perception. To fill the area left by the missing eye, Dr. Paul will refer the patient to a specialist who is an expert in prosthetics. The patient will then get fitted for a prosthesis (artificial eye) which is meant to look and behave almost the same as a natural eye. For example, the artificial eye will move along with the person’s remaining eye, just not as much as a natural eye moves.

Biopsy: A surgical biopsy may remove part of the tumor (incisional) or the entire tumor (excisional). If the tumor is found to be cancerous, and Dr. Paul has managed to remove a sufficient margin of healthy tissue along with the tumor, an excisional biopsy may be the only treatment needed.

Reconstructive surgery: Many patients in the area who have eyelid cancer require Austin facial reconstruction surgery. Reconstructive surgery differs from cosmetic surgery in that it is generally performed to improve eye function, although it may also be done to approximate a normal appearance. Often, multiple surgeries are done and spread out over a period of time.

Radiation: Radiation therapy may be used for a cancer that is hard to treat with surgery and several treatments may be needed. If radiation therapy is required, Dr. Paul will likely discuss a few options with you including the involvement of an oncology specialist to assist in your comprehensive care.

Providers who perform Eyelid Reconstruction at Austin Face & Body

Dr. Sean Paul

Dr. Sean Paul is the founder of Austin Face & Body. As a widely published surgeon who has traveled all over the world to speak, Dr. Paul is renowned and highly regarded in his industry. He specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid and facial plastic surgery in Austin, and is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Sean Paul »

Why should I choose Austin Face and Body for eyelid reconstruction?

If you’re concerned about one or more of the symptoms or signs on this page, schedule an appointment with Dr. Paul. He can diagnose your problem and provide a personalized solution, restoring your quality of life and well-being.

If basal cell carcinoma is suspected, the most common protocol is to collect a simple eyelid biopsy. This specimen is then sent to a pathologist to confirm the diagnosis prior to complete removal of the tumor. Our team will call you when the pathologist's results are back to determine the next steps. If needed, we can perform an Austin facial reconstruction procedure for you.

Dr. Paul is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Austin and a member of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS). He is known as among the most trusted oculofacial plastic surgeons in Austin and beyond. Dr. Paul regularly lectures internationally and has authored multiple scientific articles detailing his minimally invasive, technologically advanced approach.

Eyelid Reconstruction