Mohs Surgery Aftercare

Some discomfort is normal for the first 2 to 3 days after surgery. For most patients, acetaminophen (Tylenol) controls the pain: take 1,000 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed (two 500 mg tablets or three 325 mg tablets), and no more than 4,000 mg in 24 hours. While taking Tylenol, do not drink alcohol.

If Tylenol alone is not enough, keep taking it and add ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), 400 mg every 4 hours as needed. The two are safe to take together, even at the same time.

Do not take Tylenol if you have liver disease or a doctor has told you not to. Do not take ibuprofen if you have a history of kidney disease, stomach ulcers, or have been told not to take it.

Cold compresses reduce pain, swelling, and bruising. Use a bag of ice or frozen peas for 15 minutes out of every hour while awake. They help most the first evening and offer little benefit after 48 hours.

Keep the surgical site raised when you can, and sleep with an extra pillow for a few nights if your surgery was on your head or neck. After surgery on the face, swelling or bruising around one or both eyes is common a few days later.

Ease back in on roughly this schedule:

• Walking at 48 hours
• Fast walking at 72 hours
• Jogging at 1 week
• Heavy lifting or other very strenuous activity at 2 weeks

Keep the first dressing clean and dry and leave it in place at least 24 hours, with no showering. When you take it off, that is your first dressing change, and after that you may get the area wet in the shower.

Do this 1 to 2 times a day for at least 1 week. If you have stitches, continue until they are removed. If the wound is open and healing on its own, continue until the skin has closed. It is fine to continue longer.

We sent you home with Vaseline, one large sheet of Telfa, and tape. Cut a piece of Telfa a little bigger than the wound to build your own large Band-Aid. Hold the Telfa in place with the tape we sent, or any tape you like, including a regular Band-Aid.

At each dressing change:

1. Wash your hands with soapy water.
2. Remove the bandage. Gently wash the area with warm soapy water and rinse. Pat dry with a clean towel and let it air dry for a few minutes.
3. With a clean Q-Tip or fingertip, apply a thin film of petroleum jelly (Vaseline or Aquaphor). Cover it with your cut Telfa and tape it in place. A regular Band-Aid is fine for small wounds.

Do not soak the wound underwater (pool, hot tub, or bath) for 2 weeks. You may put sunscreen or other lotions on it after 2 weeks.

Call the office at 813-867-6200 if you notice any of the following:

• A fever of 100.4°F or higher.
• Thick yellow or green drainage.
• Increasing pain, tenderness, swelling, redness, or warmth at the site. A thin pink rim is a normal part of healing.

If the site is bleeding: apply pressure for 30 minutes straight, no peeking. A cold compress over the area can also help. If the bleeding does not stop, call us.

For any other questions or problems, call the office at 813-867-6200. After hours, use the contact number printed on the instruction sheet you were sent home with.