Mohs Surgery: Q&A
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Wound Not Healing After MOHS Surgery on Top of Head
One month now and the wound (quarter size) to remove a squamous cell from the top of my husbands head will not stop oozing and is healing very very slow. No antibiotics given and only instructions were to clean the wound for two days with Vinegar and water ! What can we do to help with the healing process and what is the normal time for this to heal. They did a local anestetic and it was at least a quarter inch deep. I am very concerned as to how he is supposed to bath his head , etc .. Help !!
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7 Doctor Answers |
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dserra1
+3
Healing after Mohs surgery
First off, I am sure you have an overwhelming amount of stress around this surgery. I would take a deep breathe and relax. I am not sure of the details of this surgery but it sounds like this area was allowed to heal by second intention (on its own) following surgery. This is sometimes used instead of stitching, especially in an area like the scalp where there is not a lot of slack skin to pull together. When a wound heals this way, it takes a long time, around 2 months like the other two...
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Stamford Dermatologic Surgeon
+3
Wound Healing after Mohs Surgery
It's not unusual for a wound to take 4-6 weeks to heal after surgery if allowed to heal by seconday intention (in other words, to let it heal by itself without repair). As a general rule, you want to keep the wound moist and covered to facilitate good healing. I would recommend that you contact your Mohs surgeon and go in to his/her office and be evaluated. Whenever my patients have a question about whether things are healing correctly, I encourage them to come in so that I can examine the...
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+2
Healing After Mohs Surgery
I assume that the wound was left open to heal. That size wound should take about 2 months to heal. Slight oozing is to be expected. I typically have my patients use plain Vaseline or a prescription topical antibiotic ointment until wounds clear but you should contact the Mohs surgeon for further instructions.
Austin Dermatologic Surgeon
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+1
Healing scalp wound after mohs surgery
It sounds like the wound was allowed to heal by secondary intention which is quite commonly done and a perfectly reasonable approach on the scalp where the skin is tight. Wounds that are allowed to heal by themselves can take awhile to heal- longer than a month. HAving said that, despite your proper wound care regimen, now is a good time to see your mohs sugeon for wound care follow up. I tend to follow up with patients whom I allow to heal secondarily two to 4 weeks after the...
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+1
Mohs Defect of the scalp
It is not uncommon for a Mohs Defect of the scalp to take 2 months to heal. Keep the area clean, shower and wash daily, and apply an ointment such as povidone iodine twice daily. This will help expedite the healing process. Be sure to follow your surgeons instructions.
+1
Slow healing wound
It is not uncommon after surgery to have a slow healing wound but appropriate wound care can prevent further complications. I suggest you discuss with your surgeon or a wound care center.
+1
Nonhealing surgery site
Discuss it with your surgeon. Things should be healing by now. Things that make it not heal well are smoking, prior surgery/radiation, residual lesion, etc. You can also see a facial plastic or oculofacial plastic sugeon.
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