ABSTRACT
The route to achieving the best aesthetic outcome starts before tumor extirpation is undertaken, with appropriate surgical planning and understanding of the cutaneous wound healing process, both in the general population and in pathological states. Since the result of any cutaneous injury, including Mohs surgery, is a wound, it is very important to understand the process of wound healing. Macrophages are antigen-presenting cells critical to the wound healing process, and their dysfunction can lead to abnormal healing, including chronic wounds, ulcers, and hypertrophic scarring. While many factors cannot be predicted or planned for, some are commonly associated with delayed, prolonged, or otherwise poor wound healing and with resulting suboptimal cosmetic outcome. Impaired wound healing is a recognized complication of diabetes mellitus and is caused by any of a number of factors. Alcohol exposure can impair several components of the wound healing process. Adequate circulation is crucial to achieve optimal wound healing.
