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POSTED UNDER Mohs Surgery REVIEWS

Why Didn't I Know Beforhand the Extent of the Scar? - Chicago, IL

ORIGINAL POST

I was told Mohs is minimally invasive. oh my, not...

mbeckchicagoNovember 20, 2012
WORTH IT$1,730

i was told Mohs is minimally invasive. oh my, not my case at all. i had a one cm mole about 2 cm below my eyelid. i trust the derm/onc i went to, and am happy he got all the CA. however, what i wasn't prepared for, after reading all the pre-op material i could get m hands on, was the extent of the revision scar. most of the literature cited "a few sutures." i ended up with a 3.5cm scar in a chevron pattern with a 2cm scar on the bottom half of the chevron. what gives?
 

mbeckchicago's provider

krunic, md

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i found this derm/onc through my primary doc. he was amazingly courteous, and knowledgeable, as he's an MD/PHD in derm, with a great, well informed office staff of PAs and nurse practioners. the office's post op care was amazing, given other experiences with BCC or SCC with friends. basically, i just wasn't prepared for the extent of the revised scar, given it was a one cm dia. lesion. the literature online is inadequate to prepare PTs, i'm afraid. i have post op pics to share if you care to see them.<br /><br /><i class="gray">Updated on 19 Nov 2012:</i><br/>i found this derm/onc through my primary doc. he was amazingly courteous, and knowledgeable, as he's an MD/PHD in derm, with a great, well informed office staff of PAs and nurse practioners. the office's post op care was amazing, given other experiences with BCC or SCC with friends. basically, i just wasn't prepared for the extent of the revised scar, given it was a one cm dia. lesion. the literature online is inadequate to prepare PTs, i'm afraid. i have post op pics to share if you care to see them.

Replies (7)

Sally23712
February 9, 2014
Order silicone sheeting from Rejuveness and their skin tape and wear this every night for 3-5 months. Usually in 2.5 months you can't see the scar if you are faithful in wearing it for 8 hours daily. Don't use the cheap knock offs at the drug store.
pcm
May 19, 2014
By now, I bet this is barely visible.
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AllieGB
May 29, 2014
Thanks for your review, I hope you've healed well. Your review will help others, especially to make sure they are prepared for the appearance of the incision, I suppose it all depends how far the surgeon has to go to get healthy skin, what appears on the surface isn't always the full extent of the BCC or SCC.
ber14
September 11, 2016
Yes--The depth and width of where the tumor might have spread is not known until the excision begins, so the possible-to-probable invasiveness should be made very clear--even afterward. Doctors and nurses do this so many times, they forget this was my FIRST (hopefully last) time, and it's all new to patients. Training on this for doctors and their entire staffs would be priceless.
Squibblydibbs
July 29, 2015
Hi Mbeckchicago. When I had MOHS surgery on the end if my nose, many years ago, I was told the same thing...that it would be "minimally invasive". But when they dig out the cancer, sometimes they have to (as in my case) dig MUCH (MUCH, MUCH, MUCH!) deeper, and/or in differing directions than they originally suspected. I had to have emergency plastic reconstructive facial surgery, with over a hundred and twenty stitches, and my face rearranged. But they did a good job at Charlottesville, VIrginia Hospital, and, luckily my nose looks OK. I never went back to get it tweaked --my nostrils are different sizes and so on. Hey, I think your scar is handsome. Looks rugged and manly! Be sure to dab high quality (pure) vitamin E oil on your scar many, many times per day...this will minimize scarring, absolutely! It worked on my pit bull bites on my arms, legs and face.
Vit. E oil is cheap, easy, but you must reapply approx. 8 times a day and heavily at bedtime, for it to work its magic. :-) I'm so glad your're cancer-free! YAY!
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mia82
July 31, 2015
Omg !!! Same thing happen to me , my stupid dermatologist put the fear on me about a mole I was born with and end up only removing a little bit
It come out clear I hate him for that now I'm
Left with a scar and still have the mole there ... Good thing mine is on my buttocks , wear sunscreen stay away from the sun and good luck to you
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