Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the most common metastatic skin cancer. The importance of early recognition and thorough treatment of premalignant lesions as well as the recognition of risk factors of the neoplasms that are most likely to metastasize must also be emphasized. A retrospective study of 126 patients, treated for primary squamous cell carcinoma of the face, was undertaken over a 7-year period. An attempt is made to define the major therapeutic modalities chosen, taking into consideration the specific anatomic location.