Recommended Episodes

• Ep. 21 - Skin Cancer Awareness for Estheticians with Morag Currin
• Ep. 22 - Skin Cancer in the Cockpit with Scott White: A survivor's firsthand experience with Mohs surgery, healing, and recovery.
• Summit Series Episode - Scars, Fibrosis, and Rethinking "Fixing" with Cathy Ryan ([URL]): A manual therapy perspective on scar tissue and fibrosis.

In this episode of Collaborative Connections, host Ericka Clinton speaks with Allyson O'Brien, a clinical esthetician with more than 20 years of experience, board-certified nutritionist, and educator with Oncology Training International. This episode is part of the podcast's skin cancer awareness series, and it focuses on what happens after the skin cancer is removed. Allyson specializes in scar revision following skin cancer surgery, including Mohs procedures, and shares how she first discovered oncology aesthetics, what the first conversation with a new client looks like, and why building trust and explaining the process in plain language is central to her work.

Allyson walks through her approach step by step: supporting the skin with gentle, moisture-focused and antioxidant-rich care once stitches are removed, introducing gentle peels around the four to six week mark, and adding microneedling when appropriate, typically two to three months after surgery or later depending on the client and the surgeon's guidance. She discusses contraindications for microneedling, the importance of scanning the skin and referring clients back to their medical team when something looks concerning, and staying within scope of practice. The episode closes with a conversation about raising awareness of oncology aesthetics within hospitals and cancer centers, and what Allyson wants every person living with a new scar to know about healing.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:

• Scar revision after skin cancer surgery and Mohs procedures
• How peels and microneedling support post-surgical scar tissue
• Realistic healing timelines and when to begin treatment
• Contraindications and safety considerations for microneedling
• Communicating with clients and coordinating with surgeons and oncology teams
• Building awareness and referral pathways for oncology aesthetics

View Extended shownotes here

To learn more about the Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM) visit http://www.s4om.org

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