Why Mohs Surgery Is a Game-Changing Skin Cancer Treatment

A skin cancer diagnosis can bring many questions about treatment, healing, and long-term outcomes. Mohs micrographic surgery is a highly precise approach commonly used for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, particularly in areas where preserving healthy tissue is important.

What Is Mohs Surgery?

During Mohs surgery, the physician removes the visible cancer and a thin layer of surrounding tissue. That layer is carefully mapped and examined under a microscope. If cancer cells remain, another thin layer is removed only from the affected area. The process continues until the margins are clear.

Four Benefits of Mohs Surgery

• High cure rates: Mohs surgery allows the physician to examine the surgical margin during the procedure and continue until no cancer cells remain.

• Healthy-tissue preservation: Removing tissue layer by layer helps spare as much unaffected skin as possible.

• Smaller surgical areas and potentially less scarring: Precision is especially valuable on the face, ears, hands, and other sensitive locations.

• Local anesthesia and an outpatient setting: Mohs surgery is generally performed in the office using local anesthesia, avoiding a hospital stay for many patients.

Mohs Surgery at Center for Surgical Dermatology & Dermatology Associates

Our experienced dermatology team provides advanced skin cancer evaluation and treatment, including Mohs surgery when appropriate. Treatment recommendations are personalized according to the cancer type, location, size, and each patient’s health needs.