PRE-SURGICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR MOHS PATIENTS

DO NOT stop any prescribed medication.  We need to know if you are on any blood thinners.  However, if you take aspirin, ibuprofen or other blood thinners on your own (no history of heart problems, stroke, etc), please avoid these medications for two weeks previous to and one week after your appointment. 

Bring a list of medications that you are currently taking and allergies to any medications.

You must be able to identify the biopsy / surgical site.  If you are unsure as to where you were biopsied please check with your referring physician.  Also, if your biopsy / surgical site is located in a hair bearing area, please trim / shave hair in this area previous to your visit. 

Please notify us previous to your appointment if you have been told to pre-medicate with an antibiotic previous to any surgical or dental procedure.  An example would be a specific heart ailment or hip/knee replacement in the last 2 years.

You will be receiving a local anesthetic.  Therefore, please feel free to eat breakfast/lunch.

Please do not come alone.  Even though this is an outpatient procedure, we strongly suggest that you do not drive home.

Please dress comfortably and wear button-up shirts/blouses.  Bring reading materials as the entire process could take as long as 3 or more hours.

Please note that if you smoke, you will have a higher risk of complications unless you stop a few days previous to your procedure and 1 – 2 weeks postoperative.

For your information: The Mohs technique was developed by Dr. Frederic Mohs at the Univ. of Wisconsin in the 1930s and offers the highest cure rate for the most common types of skin cancer.  Dr. John Hancox graduated from West Virginia University School of Medicine, performed dermatology residency at Wake Forest University in NC and completed his Mohs surgery fellowship at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, CA.

Your appointment has been set for ________________ at ___________.  This appointment is for the lesion located on ________________________.  The surgery will take place in our Clarksburg office.  Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call our clinic directly and ask for Tom Sturm.