One of the charms of living in a coastal town is the nearly year-round warm weather. On sunny days, activities are endless: water sports, tennis, looking for shells on the beach—the list goes on. Of course, as we all know, spending time in the sun’s rays without proper protection can lead to faster aging, freckles and, worst of all, skin cancer.
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Thankfully, Charleston has a vast selection of physicians who can unburden you of the offending spot with procedures such as Mohs surgery, where the surgeon removes thin layers of skin until the cancer is removed.
Post-surgical care following Mohs surgery is not just important, it’s crucial. It’s a key step in ensuring proper healing, minimizing complications and promoting optimal recovery. This includes paying careful attention to wound dressings, medication management and monitoring for any signs of complications.

Access to the specialized wound care facilities at Charleston Wound Care can greatly contribute to the success of post-surgical care after Mohs and other surgeries, providing expert support and resources for patients during their recovery journey.

“At Charleston Wound Care, we value our collaborations with local dermatologists. We strive to maintain a seamless communication loop with our patients’ surgeons, ensuring no one falls through the cracks,” reassured Christopher Michaelis, DO.

Dr. Michaelis believes that a personalized wound care plan should be part of every surgery.

“Our treatment plans are designed for each individual’s needs and aren’t typical “cookbook” treatment plans,” said Dr. Michaelis. “We treat the whole patient and consider all contributing factors to their healing.”

After the surgeries are complete, Dr. Michaelis and his team will see patients, often every week, to ensure that individuals are healing as they should.

Charleston Wound Care’s relationship with other area physicians is reciprocal. As wound specialists, they know what to look for beyond the wound they’re currently addressing.
“Sometimes, we’ll see a patient with a slow-healing wound, especially on inconspicuous areas such as the ears, scalp or lower extremities, and get them into a dermatologist for a biopsy,” said Dr. Michaelis.

Charleston Wound Care also believes that post-surgical healing involves supporting the patient beyond the scope of their physical wounds.

“Surgery can deeply affect patients in a number of ways. We saw a need to provide them with support both emotionally and physically,” Dr. Michaelis said. “We felt that we could influence the quality of healing by getting involved early in the process.”

Charleston Wound Care’s multidisciplinary approach covers a broad spectrum of wound healing, well beyond recovering from skin cancer surgeries. They utilize advanced therapies to help people recover faster from burns, surgeries, wounds caused by venous leg disease, ischemic and pressure ulcers, amputations and other non-healing wounds.

“We see patients on a weekly basis, those with diabetes, infections or other underlying conditions, so we may notice issues before a patient sees their surgeon for a follow-up,” Dr. Michaelis said.

“We may make early referrals to vascular surgeons if, for example, when we assess lower extremity wounds. Our goal is to optimize their vascular status, which might include a referral to a vascular surgeon.”

Charleston Wound Care is a team player when it comes to the treatment of its patients.

“We don’t just partner with surgeons,” said Dr. Michaelis. “We also partner with patients’ primary care physicians to ensure that all underlying conditions are being effectively treated. We like to incorporate all of the health professionals on the patient’s team and work together for the same outcome: to positively impact the patient’s life.”
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“Effective healing of a wound is often a partnership between multiple specialties,” Dr. Michaelis added. “That’s why our tagline is: ‘Together, we heal wounds.’”

“We want to be involved in any post-surgical care, whether it’s a self-referral or a surgeon’s referral so that the surgical patient has a better outcome. We’re all working toward that common goal.”

Charleston Wound Care, Dr. Michaelis and staff are also happy to examine a nagging little wound that isn’t healing as quickly as you would like. Even if it’s papercut sized!

“Honestly, if you’re anxious about a cut or wound that isn’t healing, no wound is too small to be inspected. We’re perfectly happy to check it out, even if it is just to reassure you that the wound is likely to heal well. And if it isn’t, we can take care of that.”

Charleston Wound Care isn’t satisfied just treating wounds. They strive to advance their specialty.

“We have an innovative approach to wound care,” stated Dr. Michaelis. “We have to raise the bar of how wounds are treated.”

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