I first visited the Champion's Way office for a small bump between my cheek and my upper lip. The dermatologist that I saw that day removed the bump very easily and a small pink wound the size of a bb was removed and healed very quickly. I was told I had a squamous cell skin cancer and needed more skin removed using the Mohs procedure. I was familiar with that procedure. My husband had it done on his ear and required plastic surgery, so I called the office and asked if a plastic surgeon would close the wound. The person I spoke to seemed lost for words and said no, but if the wound needed stitches the doctor would do them. On a visit to my PC, she suggested I see a plastic surgeon and I did. He said he would close the wound same day so it would look its best.

The day of the Mohs procedure I was taken to a room and my cheek was numbed. A man in scrubs came in the room, introduced himself as Dr. Johnson and as he shook my hand, he continued to move around to the back of the chair where I couldn't see him. There was some discussion between him and the asssistant about where the original site was and I asked, "are you sure you know where it is?" He said , oh yes, I see, from behind me and proceeded to stand to the side of the chair and cut my face (which I didn't feel), and promptly walked out the room. A while later the woman in the office told me my cut was "clean" and I could go.

Later at the plastic surgeon's office, I first saw my wound when they removed the bandage. I was shocked! I had a large wound that looked like a cigarette had been put out on my cheek. My plastic surgeon did the stitching (he is fantastic) and I went home. I was very depressed to see that I had a scar beside my nose from about 1/2 inch from the inner corner of my eye to the bottom of my nose.

It's been about three weeks since my surgery and my wound is healing well. Well enough that I have been able to look carefully at my skin. I am shocked to see that the original bb sized bump scar is still there and the mohs cut began1/4 inch above it!!!

Mohs surgery was developed to take microscopic slivers of skin and look for clean edges. This may be done multiple times depending on how deep the cancer is, but is done delicately a small slice at a time to make visible skin wounds as small as possible. I was gouged one time, a plug of skin was taken down to the fat layer and I was told I had clean edges. Now, I have to wonder if the correct site was even sampled.

No one spent any time with me explaining what squamous cell cancer was, how it spread, whether it was dangerous, or any other medical facts about it. Dr Johnson walked in the room, took 5 secs to introduce himself, walked around to the back of the chair, cut me and walked out. I never saw him again. When I went back to my plastic surgeon for stitches to be removed I stopped by The Champion's Way office to get my surgical report to take with me. I waited 30 mns and was told it would cost me $25 and $10 for each additional sheet !!! They faxed it to the Doctor free.

What I experienced is horrible. i believe Dr Johnson (who serves as surgeon and pathologist) uses the Mohs procedure to basically run a surgery mill. How many other people (and the office was packed) does he gouge once, say the edges are clean and send on their way? He did not look at my face. He didn't touch it. He did not assure me he would be as delicate as possible and he certainly did not shave off small samples at a time. He looked at a picture behind me, turned, cut me and walked out.

I would advise patients to go to any other Dermatology office and surgeon than
Virginia Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center and Dr. Johnson. I will follow this through and make sure my cancer was actually taken care of, but I have a one inch long scar (beautiful as it can be because I got a plastic surgeon on my own) from the bridge of my nose to the bottom of my cheek with the original bb sized scar right below it.

Submitted March 18, 2016

Awesome service. I went in nerverous because of possible skin cancer. Dr. Johnson and staff made sure that I was informed of every move. Not only did he take good care of me he alao made sure that I was okay after hours. Dr. Johnson is a truly great doctor/surgeon!

Submitted Jan. 5, 2012

The staff and Dr. Johnson were awesome. They were able to see me right away (the same day that I called!) and everyone was quite friendly, helpful and efficient. Dr. Johnson was very "down to earth" making it easy to discuss my skin issues with him. I had a very pleasant experience with this office and would highly recommend it to others.

Submitted April 2, 2008

Dr. Johnson takes the extra steps needed to ensure his patient''s needs are met. What''s impressive is his insight to a person''s emotional well being..a rare trait for a surgeon.

Submitted Jan. 29, 2008