What To Do Prior to Mohs Surgery
For a one week period prior to and after the scheduled date of your surgery, please do not take any medication that contains aspirin or aspirin-related products, such as Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) as an ingredient. Aspirin has an effect on your blood’s ability to clot and could increase your tendency to bleed at the time of surgery and during the post-operative period.
Please check the labels of all medication that you take, even those available without a prescription, to make sure you are not taking any aspirin or aspirin-like substances.
Please consult your physician before stopping any prescribed medication.
The following is a list of the more common medications and substances that can increase your tendency to bleed:
| ASPIRIN | CHILDREN’S ASPIRIN | FELDENE |
| ALCOHOL | CLINORIL | FIORINAL |
| ALKA SELTZER | CONGESPIRIN | FOUR-WAY COLD TABS |
| ANACIN | COPE | IBUPROFEN |
| ANAPROX | CORICIDIN | INDOCIN |
| ANAPROXN | COUMADIN | INDOMETHACIN |
| APC | DARVON | MECLOMEN |
| A.S.A. | DAVON WITH A.S.A. | MEDIPREN |
| ASCODEEN | DOLOBID | MIDOL |
| ASCRIPTIN | DRISTAN | MOTRIN |
| ASPIRIN | EASPRIN | NALFON |
| BUFFERIN | ECOTRIN | NAPROSYN |
| BRUFEN | EMPIRIN | NORGESIC |
| CEPHALGESIC | EMPRAZIL | NUPRIN |
| CHERACOL | EXCEDRIN CAPS | PERCODAN |
The Day of Surgery
- Eat a light breakfast. Caffeinated beverages should be limited to one only.
- Take your regularly prescribed medications. Please bring your medications with you the morning of the procedure. Tell the physician or the nursing staff of any over-the-counter medication that is taken regularly.
- Do not stop any blood thinning medication such as Coumadin or Aspirin unless our office has contacted your regular physician and we have advised you to do so.
- We recommend a shower the evening or morning before the procedure. Wearing freshly laundered clothing will help reduce the incidence of infection. Wear a shirt or blouse that buttons down the front. A T-shirt is difficult to pull over a large, bulky dressing.
- Do not apply make-up, cream, or shaving lotion to the affected area.
- A container for contact lens or dentures should be brought.
- Remember that you may be in our office for an extended period of time. Bring a book or needlework.
- If you become ill between now and your procedure time, contact our office.
- The temperature in our office is cool. Bring a small blanket or afghan.
- Do you have any conditions for which an antibiotic needs to be prescribed before dental work? Do you have any artificial heart valves or artificial joints (knee, hip, shoulder, etc…)? If these conditions exist and you do not inform us, it could cause a long delay in the start time of your procedure. If an antibiotic has been prescribed for you, take as instructed on the prescription.
- On the day of the procedure a family member or friend must accompany you. Medicated patients will not be allowed to drive themselves home. ALL PATIENTS MUST be escorted when leaving this office after surgery. If we need to call for your ride after the surgery, bring the name and phone numbers required with you when you come. Give this information to the nurse.
- Contact our office should you have any questions.
If you are on any antirheumatoid, antiarthritic, circulation, or anticoagulant medication (e.g., Motrin, Naposyn, Persantine, or Coumadin), please inform us.
If you need minor pain medication, please take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or another non-aspirin medication. Tylenol or Anacin-3 are available at your local pharmacy without a prescription and have comparable pain relief potential to that of aspirin. If you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol) or unable to take it for other reasons, please notify us so that we might arrange a suitable substitute.