Questions to ask at your Mohs consultation

The most useful Mohs consultation is the one where you arrive with a short list of pointed questions, because the answers tell you nearly everything about the surgeon, the plan, and what your particular cancer actually requires. Ten minutes of direct questions beats hours of anxious searching, and any experienced Mohs practice will welcome all of them.

Start with the case for Mohs itself. Ask why Mohs is recommended for your specific tumor rather than another treatment. A good answer references your biopsy result, the tumor's location and size, and the published criteria that guide the choice, not just habit. If your lesion is small and low risk, it is fair to ask whether a standard excision would serve equally well, and a confident surgeon will tell you honestly when the simpler option is reasonable.

Then ask about training and volume. The questions that separate surgeons are simple: Are you fellowship trained in Mohs surgery? How many cases do you perform in a typical year? Do you read your own slides? The American College of Mohs Surgery sets the fellowship standard, and reading one's own margins is the heart of the technique, so these answers matter more than any wall of framed certificates. The same logic guides how to choose a Mohs surgeon in the first place.

Ask what the day itself will look like. How many layers does a tumor like mine usually take? Roughly how long should I block off? Who repairs the wound if it turns out larger than expected, and do you handle your own reconstruction or coordinate with a plastic surgeon for certain defects? Knowing why the day runs long turns the waiting from worrying into expected routine, and knowing the reconstruction plan in advance removes the biggest day-of surprise.

Ask about the likely repair and the scar. What kind of closure do you anticipate for a defect in this spot: a straight line, a flap, a graft, or letting it heal on its own? What will the scar likely look like at two weeks, three months, and a year? Surgeons who do this daily can usually show healed examples of similar repairs, and the willingness to show them is itself a good sign.

Ask about recovery in your real life. How many days off work should I plan? When can I exercise, lift, garden, or travel? Are there medications or supplements to adjust beforehand, and which of my prescriptions should I absolutely keep taking? These answers vary by tumor site and by patient, which is exactly why they are worth asking rather than assuming.

Finish with logistics and cost. Is pre-authorization needed, who obtains it, and can the office estimate my out-of-pocket share for both the surgery and the repair? Insurance covers Mohs in appropriate cases as standard medical care, but plans differ in deductibles and paperwork, and a practice that handles this routinely will answer without hesitation.

A consultation that answers these questions cleanly tends to predict a surgery that goes the same way. Bring the list on paper or on your phone, take notes, and bring a second set of ears if the diagnosis has you rattled. The goal is not to interrogate the surgeon; it is to leave the room able to explain, in your own words, what will happen and why. Patients who can do that walk into their Mohs day calm, and calm patients have easier days.

Related reading: How to prepare for your Mohs procedure