Patient Information
Preparing for Your Surgery
Medical History
You will be asked to complete a medical history form at the time
of your preoperative consultation visit. Please be as thorough as
possible when completing this form. If you take aspirin or blood thinners
on a daily basis, please list those medications. Discontinuing any
medications prior to surgery will be discussed during your consultation,
but if it is unclear, please contact the office prior to your scheduled
surgery.
Breakfast
We suggest you eat your normal breakfast on the day of your surgery
unless otherwise notified.
Transportation
Please arrange to have a companion drive you to and from the office
if the surgery will require a dressing that interferes with your vision.
On the day of the surgery
Your appointment will be scheduled in the morning hours. The surgery
will be performed using a local anesthetic (you will not be “put to
sleep”). The procedure alone takes 10-15 minutes; however, it takes
a minimum of 30-60 minutes to prepare and microscopically examine
the tissues. Several surgical stages and microscopic examinations
may be required and you will be asked to wait between stages. The
most difficult part of the procedure is waiting for the results of
the surgery. Since we do not know in advance how much
time is necessary to remove the cancer and repair the wound, we ask
that you make no other commitments for the entire morning that you
are scheduled for surgery.
We want to make the time you spend with us as pleasant and comfortable
as possible. You may want to bring reading materials to occupy your
time while waiting. Due to space constraints, we ask that no more
than two people accompany you on the day of surgery. We also ask that
you make yourself available the week following surgery for post-operative
evaluation. Travel plans should be avoided near the date of your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions: |
Q: Will the surgery leave a scar? |
A: Yes. Any form of treatment will leave a scar;
however, because Mohs surgery removes as little normal tissue
as possible, scarring is minimized.
Immediately after the cancer is removed, we may choose to:
• leave the wound to heal by itself
• repair the wound with stitches
• reconstruct the wound with a skin graft or flap
• arrange consultation with a constructive surgeon.
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Q: Will I have pain or bruising after surgery? |
A: Most patients do not complain of pain. If there is any discomfort,
a non-narcotic pain reliever is usually all that is necessary
for relief. Avoid taking medications containing aspirin as they
may cause bleeding. You may have some bruising around the wound
especially if the surgery is close to the eye. Please notify the
office if you are taking any type of blood thinner. |
Q: Will my insurance cover the cost of the surgery?
|
A: Most insurance policies cover the cost of Mohs surgery.
The Skin Group is a participating provider with most insurance
plans, including Medicare. We accept assignment on Medicare. It
may be necessary to obtain a referral from your primary care physician. |
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