Hi Bev, I am not a doctor but worked in the medical community and know medical terminology, I believe that "flaps" are used when they remove something from your body (?face) that is wide and they can't see it back up because it will be to tight. They use a neighboring piece of your skin to help cover over the wound and heal better. Look up "skin flap" on the internet. I don't believe it has anything to do with cancer stage.

I had a facial flap. The melanoma on my face was 2.1 ml. They removed 2 lymph nodes and I had a JP drain in my neck for 6 weeks. They said it was stage 2. Margins were clean after surgery as were lymph nodes. I see an oncology for future testing every 6 months and a dermatologist every 3 months. So far PET scans and CT’s have been clear.

thanks Rudy

Good answer Barb.