mohs

About mohs surgery and plastic surgery

Patients who undergo mohs surgery often find it necessary to undergo reconstructive surgery. Therefore, the question of whether to have mohs surgery and plastic surgery on the same day or not is a common question. To fully understand what lies beneath the answer to this question, it is important to understand what mohs and plastic surgeries are.

Mohs surgery is a microscopically controlled type of surgery developed by Dr. Frederick Mohs in the 30’s. It is used to treat common types of skin cancer. Mohs surgery involves removal of skin cancer in such a way as to minimize loss of normal tissue. This especially important on areas of the body were tissue needs to be conserved, such as the nose, eyelids, or ears. At the first stage, visible tumor is removed. The tissue removed is examined by a Dermatopathologist to determine if all tumors have been eliminated. If any remains, the surgery continues by removing more skin, examining it microscopically, and repeating until all of the cancer cells are no longer found. The second stage is for the reconstruction of the defect. This is where plastic surgery comes in.

Plastic surgery is a medical operation carried out for the purpose of restoration or correction of deformed body parts or tissue. After Mohs surgery, the surgeon may advice many repair methods including natural healing, stitching, or regional flaps. The question of whether it is right or wrong to undergo plastic surgery on the same day comes in where plastic surgery is the chosen option.

Mohs surgery and plastic surgery on the same day

It is both right and possible to have Mohs surgery and plastic surgery on the very same day. Most patients consider it necessary for their wounds to heal for some days before undergoing plastic surgery. This, in fact, compromises the expected results of a plastic surgery. Healing causes an inflammation of tissues, which in turn complicates plastic surgery. For the best results, it is advised that plastic surgery be done on the same day as Mohs surgery when the wound is fresh and uncontaminated.

Undergoing plastic surgery on the same day as Mohs surgery is an ideal way of containing skin cancer. It not only quickens the healing process, but also minimizes the risk of infection. Carrying out both surgeries on the same day lessens the healing time.

There are instances where a patient may be forced to undergo the surgeries on different days. This especially happens when Mohs surgery take time. Typically, a doctor take a few minutes to remove the tumor, then examines it for an hour or two before concluding whether all tumor has been removed or not. Due to various reasons, this time may be longer because additional tissue needs to be repeatedly excised, and the patient may have to undergo plastic surgery on a different day. Another reason for having the surgeries on different days is where different doctors perform the operations. This merely raises the possibility of the surgeries happening on different days. However, having Mohs surgery and plastic surgery on different days is not advised unless it is necessary. When this situation arises it is best to have the plastic surgeon reconstruct the area the very next day.

A patient requires a few things when undergoing Mohs surgery. A patient should abstain from alcoholic for a period of 48 hours before the surgery. Some medications such as vitamin E supplements should be stopped when the surgery is carried out. Having a consultation before the surgery is strongly advocated for as the patient is told exactly what to do before and after the surgery.

In conclusion, Mohs surgery can be an important method of treating skin cancers, and having plastic surgery on the same day is usually the best way to optimize any necessary reconstruction.