Mohs Surgery
MOHS MICROGRAPHIC SURGERY
New treatments for skin cancer are appearing and evolving rapidly in recent years. However one surgical technique has more than stood the test of time. Developed by Dr. Frederick Mohs in the 1930s, Mohs micrographic surgery has, with a few refinements, come to be embraced over the past decade by an increasing number of surgeons for an ever-widening variety of skin cancers.
Today, Mohs surgery has come to be accepted as the single most effective technique for removing Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carinoma, the two most common skin cancers. It accomplishes the sparing of the greatest amount of healthy tissue while also most completely expunging cancer cells. Cure rates are unparalleled 98 percent or higher with Mohs, significantly better than the rates for standard excision or any other accepted method.
MOHS SURGERY PROCEDURE
Mohs Surgery is safe and effective, performed on an outpatient basis in your doctor's office. It may be performed by a team of highly trained specialists who each focus on different parts of treatment, or one experienced Mohs surgeon well-quipped to perform the entire procedure. During the Mohs Surgery procedure, the affected area is numbed with a local anesthetic. Small layers of skin are removed and the the area is closely examined to see if the cancer has been thoroughly eradicated.
RECOVERY AND RESULTS FROM MOHS SURGERY
After Mohs surgery, patients may experience mild discomfort, bruising and swelling around the treated area. Your surgeon may recommend pain relievers after the procedure to help manage any pain.
RISKS OF MOHS SURGERY
As with any surgical procedure, Mohs surgery carries risks. Some of these risks include bleeding from the wound, bleeding into the wound, pain or tenderness around the surgical site, and infection. Infection is uncommon, but can usually be treated with oral antibiotics.