Please help! Spitz Nevus - Is second surgery necessary?

[FloridaMomDad]

Our little 3 year-old girl had a Spitz Nevus removed from her upper cheek about six months ago. Our pediatric dermatologist had recommended removal. We engaged a plastic surgeon to perform the procedure. Her surgery was also an extremely traumatic experience for our daughter. (She screamed when she was taken into surgery and for about two hours after the surgery.) She also had a large gash on her face for months afterwards and a has a large scar from the procedure, even six months later. The pathologist and dermatologist said that the removed spitz was "very typical" after it was removed and that there was nothing to worry going forward, aside from the possibility recurrence.

However, the plastic surgeon called a couple of days after the surgery to say that he needed to perform the procedure again because he said he hadn't gone deep enough in extracting tissue. (We actually talked to the dermatologist about the pathology report being a "very typical" spitz nevus after the plastic surgeon had called.) The plastic surgeon had taken and a wide amount of skin off her face, but apparently he hadn't gone as deep as the pathology indicated where there were still some cells. As you could imagine, my wife and I were very upset that the procedure had not been performed correctly the first time. For a number of reasons, including the fact that my daughter had such a traumatic experience, we asked our dermatologist if it would be safe to wait a few months before performing the surgery again. She said it would be absolutely fine.

My daughter has healed well since that time, but she still has a large scar where the procedure was performed by the plastic surgeon. Because her original surgery was such a traumatic experience for her, the wife and I are very anxious about putting her through it again unless a second procedure is prudent and necessary. I have been trying to becomes educated on Spitz Nevus since that time. There has been no indication in six months that the spitz nevus is recurring.

My question is this: If the risk of a spitz nevus recurrence only and there is no indication of recurrence, is a second surgery necessary? Shouldn't we just wait to see if it recurs and then have it removed if it does? We would like to avoid any unnecessary surgery, but we certainly want to protect the health of my child. We are about to meet with the plastic surgeon again and want to be fully informed of our decision.

Your help and replies is greatly appreciated.

[sookienix]

My 6 year old daughter had what we thought was an hemangioma removed from her cheek in the dermatologist office a month ago. The doctor removed it in office, with what looked like a razor shaving the skin. The scar is similar to a chicken pock scar. However, the biopsy came back an as atypical spitz nevus. We are going to a plastic sugeon in a week to consult on the next surgery, because the dermatologist wants clean margins. I am very nervous to go through with the next surgery, my daughter was very upset after the in office procedure

[arch5]

My son went through this stressful situation also....he did go through the second surgery.  We were so fearful but he did well with the second surgery. The scar looks about the same after the second surgery as it did after the first.Best wishes

[arch5]

My son went through this stressful situation also....he did go through the second surgery.  We were so fearful but he did well with the second surgery. The scar looks about the same after the second surgery as it did after the first. Best wishes.