Will I be in pain during surgery?

You may experience minor discomfort when local anesthesia is injected around your skin cancer. The pain is similar to what you experienced when your doctor performed a biopsy of the cancer.

You will not feel pain while your Mohs surgeon is removing your cancer or stitching your wound. Subsequent anesthetic injections prior to any additional stages or reconstruction of your wound are often painless, since the anesthesia from the first injection is usually still effective.

How long does Mohs surgery take?

We cannot predict precisely how long it takes to remove the skin cancer and reconstruct the surgical wound. The actual time you’ll spend with us varies, depending upon the nature of your cancer and the characteristics of the skin cancers of the other patients cared for that day. Since we cannot predict an exact time, please plan to spend the entire day with us and cancel any other appointments on the day of your surgery.

The following flow diagram gives you a rough estimate of the time required for each step of your surgery. Please understand that these times may vary, depending upon multiple factors.

We recognize that waiting is the most difficult part of the day, so we keep you informed of your progress and work efficiently to get you home as quickly as possible. We encourage you to bring reading materials or a companion to help you pass the time.

When will my final surgical wound be repaired?

In most cases, your Mohs surgeon repairs your final surgical wound on the day of surgery after confirming that all of the cancer has been removed. Most wounds are repaired with stitches. If it is difficult for you to tolerate reconstruction on the same day of surgery or if you have an extensive wound inappropriate for reconstruction under local anesthesia, we may schedule you to come back on another day or see another surgeon for your repair.

Will Mohs surgery leave a scar?

Yes. Any surgery to remove skin cancer results in a scar. However, the precision of the Mohs technique helps decrease the amount of scarring by removing all of the diseased skin while leaving behind as much healthy skin as possible. Your Mohs surgeon is skilled in surgical reconstruction and repairs your wound to make your scar as unnoticeable as possible.

The vast majority of patients heal very nicely and do not require additional treatment to their scars. However, if you have any questions about enhancing the appearance of your scar, please contact us so we can discuss potential options for improvement.

Can I go home after the surgery?

Yes. The surgery is performed under local anesthesia, and you return home with a bandage over your wound. In rare cases, hospitalization may be necessary, in which case we take care of all the arrangements for you.

Will I be able to drive home?

We recommend that you arrange for a companion to drive you home. Postoperative swelling or bulky dressings used to cover the surgical wound may obstruct your vision or restrict your movements, making driving alone dangerous. Driving is prohibited if you require a sedative to help calm your nerves during surgery.