Mohs Surgery Pre-Operation Instructions

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Gilbert

Desert Sky Dermatology Gilbert Arizona

1688 E Boston St, Suite 101
Gilbert, AZ 85295

Mesa

Desert Sky Dermatology Mesa Arizona

7205 E Baseline Rd.
Mesa, AZ 85209

  1. ONLY stop blood thinning medications if you have been instructed to do so by your doctor.
  2. Please discontinue ALL over the counter vitamins, supplements and medications 7 days prior to your surgery, unless they are prescribed by your doctor.
  3. Take regularly prescribed medications the morning of the surgery.
  4. On your surgery day, you will likely be in our office ALL day. For this reason, please bring any necessary medications that you take throughout the day.
  5. Eat breakfast and bring a sack lunch/snack. Again, your surgery may go through lunch or dinner.
  6. If you smoke tobacco, please stop 2 days prior to, and 7 days after the surgery. This will help with healing.
  7. If you consume alcoholic beverages, please stop 7 days prior to, and 2 days after surgery. This will help prevent complications of bleeding.
  8. We recommend a shower the evening or morning before surgery and freshly laundered clothes to help reduce the chance of getting an infection. Please wear something comfortable that allows for easy access to your surgery site.
  9. If your skin cancer is on your face, please do not wear any make-up.
  10. On the day of your surgery we ask that you come to the appointment alone, unless you require a caregiver.
  11. We recommend that you do not drive home and arrange for a ride home after your surgery.
  12. The initial removal of the tissue (skin cancer) takes less than 20-30 minutes. After removing the tissue, we will put a temporary dressing on the wound and show you to our waiting room. The tissue is then processed (put on slides). This can take two to three hours. The doctor will review the slides under the microscope. If any cancer cells are left, we will repeat the above procedure until all the skin cancer cells are gone. After removing all of the skin cancer, the doctor will perform reconstructive surgery if necessary. The reconstruction may take 45 minutes or longer. Waiting time depends not only on your own surgery, but on all the other patients scheduled on that day. Waiting times can range anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.
  13. You will leave the clinic with a bulky bandage which will need to stay in place (clean and dry) for 24-48 hours. These bandages may obscure your vision. This is another reason you should have a driver. Please consider this when scheduling your surgery.
  14. You should limit your activity (NO heavy lifting, NO exercising, and NO activity that may raise your blood pressure; NO swimming or hot tubs) for up to 2 weeks after your surgery. The length of time for these limitations varies depending on the extent and location of your surgery and may be shorter than 2 weeks. The Mohs staff will be able to give you more detailed, individualized instructions before you go home the day of surgery.

*PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOUR SURGERY VISIT MAY LAST ALL DAY.
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