Can you eat during Mohs surgery?

Not so for Mohs. Because Mohs surgery uses local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia, you're allowed—and encouraged —to eat breakfast the morning of surgery. Want to promote healing?

Can I eat or drink before Mohs surgery?

You may eat a light meal before coming in for surgery. Wear a loose-fitting, button-front shirt as we will have you change into a gown. Stop taking any non-prescription medications that thin the blood at least 10 days before your scheduled surgery.

Do you need to fast before Mohs surgery?

There is no need to fast, since local anesthesia is used for the surgery. It's best to clear your schedule the day of your Mohs procedure, as the process can take time. You may want to ask a loved one to accompany you to your appointment.

Is the patient awake during Mohs surgery?

Your Mohs Procedure

You receive local anesthesia around the area of the tumor, so you are awake during the entire procedure. The use of local anesthesia versus general anesthesia provides numerous benefits, including preventing a lengthy recovery and possible side effects from general anesthesia.

What should you not do before Mohs surgery?

What Is Mohs Surgery?

How long should you rest after Mohs surgery?

We recommend you limit vigorous physical activity, excessive bending over or exercise for seven days after your Mohs surgery to allow your wound to heal and prevent bleeding or damage to your stitches. Sutures are usually removed five to 10 days after surgery.

Why is the incision so long for Mohs surgery?

Patients see the diameter of the lesion and assume the incision won't be much bigger than that. But because the lesions are generally circular, surgeons need to extend the incision so the skin will lie flat when the edges are closed.

How long does Mohs surgery take?

Most of the time, the procedure takes less than four hours. But it can be hard to tell how large a skin cancer is just by looking at it. So health care providers often recommend planning for the procedure to take the whole day.

Do I need a ride home after Mohs surgery?

The majority of Mohs surgeries are completed by mid to late afternoon. It is common for patients to feel tired by the end of the surgery, particularly if multiple stages have been taken, or if there was an involved repair. We do recommend that you have a driver available to take you home.

How painful is Mohs surgery?

Because it's less invasive, most of the time patients are awake during Mohs surgery. The area is numbed with a local anesthetic, so you won't feel a thing. The surgery itself is pain-free. Again, it's very precise, removing only the cancerous tissue.

How long after Mohs surgery can I shower?

After 48 hours, you may shower with the dressing in place, then remove. Apply Polysporin ointment and a loose dressing using a Band-Aid or Telfa (nonstick pad) and paper tape. Remember to keep the surgery site protected with antibiotic ointment (i.e., Polysporin or Bacitracin).

Can I have coffee before Mohs surgery?

You do not need to fast and you can take your daily medications normally unless otherwise advised by the doctor. Instead, eat a nutritious and filling breakfast to help avoid lightheadedness during the procedure. Do not drink excess coffee. You may also bring food or snacks with you to the office as well.

How long do I wear a bandage after Mohs surgery?

You should plan on keeping the area covered until your stitches are removed, 1- 2 weeks after surgery. A wound left to heal naturally may require 4-12 weeks of bandaging based on their size, location, and your own body's ability to heal.

Do you get painkillers after Mohs surgery?

Mohs micrographic surgery is the practice of removing skin cancers typically on the head and neck. Skin is removed around the narrow margins. The surgeries may produce pain and require analgesics.

What should I do the day before Mohs surgery?

Do you go under anesthesia for Mohs?

Mohs surgery is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, and the entire procedure usually lasts several hours. Depending on the extent of the cancer, reconstructive surgery may be necessary and can often be performed on the same day by your Mohs surgeon.

What not to do after Mohs surgery?

Rest and take it easy for the first 48 hours after surgery. Avoid any vigorous activity, heavy lifting, exercise, straining or anything that gets your blood pressure or heart rate up for the first week after surgery. These activities significantly increase the risk of post-operative bleeding.

Why am I so tired after Mohs?

It's normal to have some tiredness and fatigue the day of and even a few days after surgery. Although many patients are back at work the day after surgery, some patients need more time to rest and recover. Patients should minimize physical activity for about a week after Mohs surgery.

Do you always need plastic surgery after Mohs surgery?

Mohs surgery was originally created to help minimize the risk of scarring and the need for additional plastic surgery after cancer removal. However, a percentage of people who get Mohs do require plastic surgery after their skin cancer removal.

How many stitches are in Mohs surgery?

Just A Couple Stitches

Adam Mamelak, board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon in Austin, Texas. While a patient may feel that one or two stitches are all that's needed, 10 or more may in fact be required to close their skin.

Does Mohs surgery leave a hole?

Mohs surgery will leave a hole that is usually closed with stitches. Sometimes, if the removed spot is very small, the hole will be covered with a bandage and left to heal on its own.

Can I go to work the day after Mohs surgery?

Most people are able to return to work the day after Mohs surgery. Even though Mohs surgery spares as much healthy tissue as possible, it may take 4 to 6 weeks for the wound to completely heal. The doctor usually removes the sutures 5 to 10 days after surgery. You may have mild discomfort as you heal.

Is Mohs surgery worse than excision?

The process of evaluating skin tissue in stages allows 100 percent of the tissue to be examined, where in traditional excision, only 1 percent of the edges are examined under a microscope. This ensures that 100 percent of the skin cancer is removed during Mohs surgery, resulting in a cure rate above 98 percent.

Do I need antibiotics after Mohs surgery?

Will I need antibiotics after the surgery? Infection occurs rarely with Mohs surgery (less than 2% of cases). Most people that have Mohs surgery do not need any antibiotics. However, if the reconstruction is complex, you may need to take an antibiotic for a few days.

Is Mohs surgery done in stages?

The surgery is done in stages, including lab work, while you wait. This allows the removal of all cancerous cells for the highest cure rate while sparing healthy tissue and leaving the smallest possible scar.