What You Need to Know About Healing After Mohs Surgery
If you have recently been diagnosed with skin cancer your physician has probably talked with you about Mohs surgery. As a highly effective treatment method, this is considered one of the preferred treatments for those newly diagnosed, as well as those that are having a recurrence of skin cancer. Just like with many other treatments, you probably have several questions, particularly when it comes to the healing process. Here is some helpful information to keep you informed.
Pain Expectations
One of the leading recovery questions people have is what type of pain should they expect. For starters, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question as each person's interpretation of pain is different. However, for many people, the feeling they experience is more of a discomfort type of sensation, rather than pain.
For instance, the area around the wound is often hardened, which may cause the skin around it to feel tight. In some instances, you may also experience redness or swelling around the area. However, should you experience warmth around the incision site and/or significant pain, be sure to reach out to your surgeon for additional instructions.
Healing Time
Another common question is what type of healing time should be expected. Again, unfortunately, there is no across the board answer. First, you can expect to go back to work soon after the surgery, even as soon as the very next day. So, if you're concerned about a long recovery time, this is a worry you don't need to take on.
The longest thing you have to worry about is the actual healing of the scar around the wound, which can take several months—if not longer. Where you fall on the chart has to do with the healing qualities of your own skin. However, the more closely you follow the doctor's orders, the faster you can expect to heal.
Prevention Tips
As with any other surgical procedure, there are always risks during recovery. However, there are also things you can do to lower and prevent these risks. One of the most important things for you to do is to keep the incision site clear and clean. Though small, this is still an open wound and any dirt or other debris that gets inside can cause an infection.
It's also important to avoid strenuous activity in the period immediately after the procedure as this can aggravate the wound, increase the risk for excessive bleeding and delay your healing.
When it comes to recovery from Mohs surgery, make certain you are speaking with your provider. Your physician will be able to answer questions about recovery, as well as specific concerns you might have. To learn more, visit resources like http://www.eastcarolinadermatology.com.
