Why Did I Get Stitches Next Day After Mohs Surgery?

asked 3 years ago by Confused by Mohs Insurance in Coppell, TX
Latest answer by Robert E. Zaworski, MD
Question viewed 2,486 times

When I scheduled my Mohs surgery, I was told that changes to insurance made it necessary for me to return the second day to get my stitches. If I was stitched up same day, does it mean insurance wouldn't cover that expense? That sounded strange to me as I would think there would be a liability issue to the doctor for dismissing me with an open wound. Now, I wonder if the doctor wasn't just trying to make more money by adding another office visit charge.

6 answers to Why Did I Get Stitches Next Day After Mohs Surgery?

Mohs Repair

Did your Mohs surgeon do the repair, or did he send you to a Plastic Surgeon for repair? It could be that both surgeons could not coordinate their schedules for the same day. Insurance could be an issue. Check with your insurance company to see how they would answer that question.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

May be increase in reimbursement

I am not clear if the same doctor is closing the wound why it needs to be done on the second day. Sometimes when procedures are done on the different days they can be billed as two separate procedures. The insurance companies try to "bundle" procedures together. For example if you are an ophthalmologist and see a patient on a day and order a photo of their eye that day, the insurance company won't pay for the photo that day but will pay for it, if the photo is done on a... more

Chris Thiagarajah, MD
Washington DC Oculoplastic Surgeon

Delayed closure after surgical removal of cancer

Some physicians will delay closure of a defect that results after surgical removal of a cancer. This approach has been used for many years. In our practice, we typically close all defects the same day with a few rare exceptions. In any case, if you have confidence in your physician, then I am sure they are making a decision that is in your best interests.

Steven Hacker, MD
West Palm Beach Dermatologic Surgeon

www.palmbeachdermasurgery.com

Mohs surgery repair varies with wound type and surgeon

Repair after Mohs surgery can happen in a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons: 1. Sometimes no repair is necessary -- the wound will heal on its own without stitches. 2. Often sutures are placed immediately after the tumor is cleared, with a linear repair, flap, or graft performed the same day. 3. The linear repair, flap, or graft can be delayed by several days or weeks to enhance its survival or appearance. Sometimes this is done to improve outcome, sometimes it is due to... more

Chad L. Prather, MD
Baton Rouge Dermatologist

No liablity issue with stitching next day after Mohs Surgery

There is no liability issue in dismissing a patient with an open wound to be repaired the next day. In fact some studies have shown that it helps skin graft survival to wait a week or two to let the wound heal a little on its own before placing the graft. There are certain wound locations that we actually allow to fill in on their own. I would recommend that you speak with the surgeon or the office manager of the practice as to the reason with respect to insurance.

Jerome Potozkin, MD
Walnut Creek Dermatologic Surgeon

Stitches after Mohs Surgery nothng to worry about

I don't understand the role of insurance in all this. I help Moh's surgeons close their larger holes and this is done routinely the next day because of logistical issues. The patients don't suffer and the result is not effected.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

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