A Word About Medications:
Please take all your normal medications the morning of your surgery.
1) Blood Thinners: Most people should stop all aspirins, aspirin-containing medications (Alka-Seltzer, Anacin, Ecotrin, etc), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (Motrin, Naproxen, Advil, Midol, Aleve, etc.) for 7 days prior to your scheduled surgery.
If you take aspirin because you have had a stroke, heart attack, heart disease, other condition, or your physician has prescribed you to take it, please continue your aspirin.
Ask your doctor if prior to surgery you should stop your prescribed blood thinners, such as Coumadin/Warfarin, Plavix, or Aggrenox. Never stop them without your doctors permission or knowledge. If you have had a stroke, heart attack, or have an irregular heartbeat, your doctor may want you to continue your medication. We can still do your surgery.
2) Antibiotics: If you usually require antibiotics prior to dental work, please let us know prior to your surgery. Medical conditions that sometimes require preoperative antibiotics include artificial heart valves and heart murmurs.
3) Vitamins and Supplements: Avoid taking any supplements with Vitamin E, Fish Oil, Gingko, Ginseng, and Garlic for 2 weeks before and 2 days after your surgery.
4) Alcohol: Avoid drinking alcohol for 2 days prior to your surgery, and for 2 days afterwards (it thins the blood and causes more bruising and swelling).
Additional Points:
Eat before you come (unless you are instructed otherwise by another surgeon who will be seeing you later in the day) and bring a snack. Try not to overdo it with caffeine the morning of (whereas this makes some people anxious and need to the bathroom more frequently).
Bring a friend to keep you company and drive you home. They are not permitted to wait in the exam room during the surgery itself, for safety reasons, but are welcome to sit in our waiting room.
Be prepared for a delay if your surgery start time is after 10 AM. We strive to stay on time, however the start and stop time can be unpredictable for the Moh’s procedure.
Bring your insurance card and ID, as well as any needed referrals (if your insurance requires it).
Wear comfortable clothes- not something you need to dry clean. If the cancer is on your trunk, please wear only button up shirts.
If you would like a low dose of anti- anxiety medication (and have a driver), please let us know and we will prescribe this for you.
Expect to have a bulky gauze pressure dressing placed over your excision site. This should remain in place for 24 hours. You may take Tylenol for pain as needed.
Avoid activities that may place a strain on your incision until your return visit (usually 7 days). This is to help prevent bleeeding, pulling of sutures, and minimize scarring.
Expect to have a white tape over your excision. This will be covered with a bulky gauze dressing. The white tape flat to your skin is to be left on your skin until you return for suture removal. If it falls off prior to your suture removal date- please notify us.
