Experiences with MOHS Surgery for BCC: What to Expect and How to Prepare

@luigari I have worked in Dermatology and if you have had a previous melanoma, they should be removing it, if they think it’s a BCC, to air on caution. BCC removal is a soon referral, melanoma is urgent. Some superficial BCCs, they use creams to treat. It’s right in saying BCCs don’t spread, but they do grow. I would demand to be referred by your Gp up to dermatology. You should get priority, already having a melanoma. Xx
 
Hey, I had a BCC removed from the side of my face/hairline a few years ago, it was quite big and they went quite deep but the proceedure itself was totally fine, i just had to walk around with what i can only describe as a face tampon on the side of my head for a while 😄but they got it all and it healed really well.
 
I had a BCC removed from the centre of my forehead. Not alot of skin to work with. BCC was slightly bigger than yours. Incision was very big. Healed well you can't even see the scar now unless I point it out. That part of your face would have a lot more skin to work with than a forehead. No scare tactics intended but they told me to expect a 2cm radius from the BCC. There was a reconstructive surgeon on-site if required. What I didn't expect was the wait time in-between each layer removal. They numbed the area, removed a layer, then sat in a separate waiting room waiting for pathology to come back to clear all boarders.This happened for every layer removal. 6 hours in total. They said to expect 2 to 3 layer removals.
 
@lorice I am so glad everything went well for you!🤗
They did warned me about staying there a lot, told me to bring books, magazines, snacks, anything to keep me occupied!🤞
 
I had a BCC on my scalp, unfortunately the way in which mine was discovered etc has left me with anxiety over it all. I was meant to be having a removal of a large skin tag that hadn't frozen off well but the day of the appointment it fell off, so I said "whilst you're there can you remove this thing, every time I brush my hair I catch it and it's not healing." He said it was a build up of skin keratosis or something. He removed it, all good on the healing. 2 weeks later the GP called said I needed to be seen immediately, no explanation, I dashed there alone to be told "so yeah, I had a surprise you have skin cancer, I removed it though so I diagnosed you and cured you all in one. Ohh I did a great job too that's great work " honestly, I was all on my own no idea this was coming and an idiot for a GP preoccupied with bigging up his stitch work.
It sound like you have a good dermatologist so be guided by them, the BCCs don't tend to spread much so you should be fine excision wise. Explain your worries to them I'm sure they'll put them to rest for you.
I hope it all goes well for you, try not to worry xx
 
How strange for me that you have put this on today. I go to a dermatology appointment this afternoon I have a mole on the top of my back that I noticed was starting to get really itchy last week and noticed it was quite raised up than usual I went to the gp on Tuesday and dermatology called me Wednesday with an appointment for today it’s all been really quick.
 
@vicomte13 same here! I’ve just been for my dermatology check up this morning! After 2 melanomas many years apart and several other moles removed I still get annual check ups. Got to have one removed from my upper arm this time x
 
I've had BCC twice now and 2 suspicious ones removed and a drs next week as ive found another one, I don't sunbathe and always wear factor 50, I had surgery removal on all mine, my surgeon was lovely and made sure I was comfortable and relaxed, spoke to me all the way through as well I was also given a prescription for dermatix (I think that's what it's called) and really helped with the scar tissue as I get keloid scarring x
 
Ive had over 15 bcc removed over the last 20 years. Its pretty straightforward removal surgery performed under local anesthetic. At least 7 of mine were on my face and whilst they have left scars, they arent prominent and the only one Im actually self conscious about is the scar on my nose, but meh, worse things to worry about.
 
I recently had one removed from my eyelid. All went fine and was fairly straightforward. The initial numbing injections were not pleasant but it has healed well (after initial swelling went down).
 
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