Yes, it is inevitable, and there’s no way around it. After Mohs surgery, you will have a scar. That’s beyond your control.
However, you are in control of what happens after surgery, and there are several things you can do to take excellent care of the wound and make that resulting scar as minimal as possible.
Avoid sun exposure.
This one may be obvious, but it bears repeating. The skin lesion may be gone, but what’s underneath is even more susceptible to sun damage. Do everything you can to stay covered up, and seek out shady areas when you’re outside for a prolonged period of time. If you absolutely need to be in direct sunlight, consider wearing a patch or bandage over the area — or, at the very least, apply sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection generously.
Keep the wound protected.
By its nature, Mohs surgery excises the “toughest” (i.e., outermost) skin layers, exposing the more tender layers of skin that lie beneath. Treat that exposed skin accordingly: Be gentle, be careful, and don’t put the area in any kind of risk of injury. The best rule of thumb is to keep it covered whenever you can, even when you’re indoors.
Apply high-quality skincare products.
Sensitive skin around the wound deserves extra love and attention, and that includes the regular skincare products you’re using.
We offer several lines of skincare products, and we will be happy to recommend a skincare regimen that makes sense for you following treatment. Every Mohs surgery procedure is a little different, so we won’t necessarily recommend the same treatment line for every case.
Be patient.
Mohs surgery is very safe, efficient, and effective — but it’s still surgery. That means the body needs time to heal, and that process may not be quite as rapid as you’d ideally like it to be.
Of course, we will give you detailed instructions for wound care following your procedure, and we’re always here to answer any questions you may have.