Why Did I Get Stitches Next Day After Mohs Surgery?

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

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.

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

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.

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.