Skin Cancer Reconstruction

The outer side of the ear is a difficult body area to reconstruct because there is very limited extra skin to pull across the defect left after the skin cancer has been removed.  This problem is solved using the "cat scratch" flap developed by facial plastic surgeon, Dr David Hartman of Fine Arts Skin & Laser in Dover, Ohio.  The cat scratch flaps converts the single wide defect into 3-5 smaller cresent-shaped defects that then heal by "secondary intention" in 1-3 weeks - leaving an ear that usually has an undetectable scar.