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Mohs Surgery

Trusted skin cancer treatment at the Center for Surgical Dermatology.

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Mohs Surgery

Trusted skin cancer treatment at the Center for Surgical Dermatology.

MOHS SURGERY

If you have skin cancer symptoms or have been diagnosed with skin cancer and are exploring your treatment options, learn more about Mohs surgery, a skin cancer treatment that is trusted by board-certified dermatologists across the United States. 

When you are ready to schedule an appointment, get in touch with our practice by calling (614) 847-4100 or requesting an appointment online. We look forward to helping you optimize and maintain your skin health through comprehensive skin cancer treatment.

What is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs surgery, also called Mohs micrographic surgery, is a highly precise and specialized surgical procedure that treats a wide range of skin cancers. From basal and squamous cell carcinoma to melanoma, Mohs surgery is often the recommended procedure when a patient shows skin cancer symptoms and has a positive biopsy. 

Mohs surgery is unique in that this form of skin cancer treatment involves using a strategic mapping technique to indicate where the cancerous cells are located. Once a detailed map is created, your Mohs surgeon then exclusively removes the cancerous cells. Next, the removed tissue is microscopically examined in our laboratory by our experienced pathologist to determine if any cancerous cells are still present. 

This process, while exhaustive, ensures that all cancerous cells are eliminated. Furthermore, it reduces the chances of scarring and optimizes healing potential for a smooth recovery. 

At the Center for Surgical Dermatology, Mohs surgery is performed by our specially-trained providers who have completed one additional year of training known as a Mohs fellowship. Mohs surgeons are highly trained in surgery, pathology, and reconstruction, and can deliver better, more reliable skin cancer treatment results.

Patient consulting with a dermatologist about Mohs Surgery
Questions

Mohs Surgery FAQs

If you are considering Mohs surgery as a treatment option after experiencing skin cancer symptoms and being diagnosed with this scary disease, browse our FAQs section below. Our board-certified dermatologists provide essential information on this specialized skin cancer treatment, including what type of cancers it treats, if it’s covered by insurance, the benefits of this procedure, and who performs Mohs surgery near Westerville, Ohio. 

Mohs surgery is named after the procedure’s founder, Dr. Frederick Mohs, who developed the specific skin cancer treatment technique in 1938.

Mohs surgery is an outpatient procedure, which means it is performed in our comfortable, state-of-the-art clinic in Westerville, Ohio, rather than a hospital.

During the procedure, the surgeon will take a tissue sample of each skin layer and examine it under a microscope. At this time, you’ll wait in our comfortable office until the surgeon is done microscopically examining the tissue for remaining cancer cells.

Mohs surgery can technically be performed on any part of the body where skin cancer is present. However, Mohs surgery is often reserved for the treatment of skin cancer on sensitive areas of the body where skin preservation is essential, such as the face, neck, hands, feet, or genitals.

Additionally, Mohs surgery is recommended for skin cancers that have more aggressive microscopic features, regardless of where those skin cancers are located.

Mohs surgery is known as “The Gold Standard” of skin cancer treatment—and for good reason. This type of skin cancer treatment provides a wide range of exceptional benefits, including: 

Mohs surgery is most commonly used to treat basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It is often recommended for skin cancers that are aggressive, show an invasive pattern microscopically, or are located in cosmetically sensitive areas, such as the face or scalp. 

In some cases, Mohs surgery is sometimes recommended for melanoma, but typically only if it is caught early (this is why you should regularly check your skin for skin cancer symptoms) and hasn’t spread into deeper tissue.

For more information on the benefits of Mohs surgery, read our helpful blog here. And don’t forget to also read why you should choose a fellowship trained Mohs surgeon

Mohs surgery is known as “The Gold Standard” of skin cancer treatment—and for good reason. This type of skin cancer treatment provides a wide range of exceptional benefits, including: 

  • A sore that won’t heal, or that routinely heals and comes back.
  • Redness, swelling, or inflammation around a mole or spot.
  • A mole that changes in color or size.
  • Change in sensation in or around a mole (itching, tenderness, or pain).
  • Crusty or scaly patch of skin.
  • Wart-like growth (may crust, ooze, or bleed).
  • Non-healing ulcer.
  • Small, pearly nodule (may have a central indentation).

If you notice any of these skin cancer symptoms, it is very important to visit a board-certified dermatologist for a thorough skin cancer screening. Contact the Center for Surgical Dermatology to schedule a screening in Westerville, Ohio. Our team can help ease your worries or determine the best route for treatment.

Mohs surgery does not require general anesthesia, however your Mohs surgeon will use local anesthesia or a numbing agent to numb the area being treated. This helps reduce any discomfort you may experience during the procedure.

Mohs surgery uses local anesthesia or a numbing agent to numb the area being treated, which minimizes any pain. At the Center for Surgical Dermatology, our board-certified surgeons are exceptionally skilled in injection techniques to help make this part of your procedure as comfortable as possible.

Yes, Mohs surgery, much like many other surgeries, leaves a scar. The size and shape of the scar depends on the size and location of the area being treated. 

However, one of the top benefits of Mohs surgery is that it preserves as much healthy skin as possible, which minimizes scarring potential. 

Additionally, our surgeons are specifically trained in the same techniques used in plastic surgery to minimize the appearance of scars and essentially make them as unnoticeable as possible.

Mohs surgery has many benefits that make it one of the most trusted skin cancer treatments by dermatologists across the United States. With its unique detailed mapping technique, Mohs surgery can specifically pinpoint cancerous cells that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. 

As such, even the smallest cancerous root can be removed, making it one of the most dependable skin cancer treatments. This also lends to Mohs surgery’s lower rates of cancer recurrence and high cure rates. 

Additionally, with this technique, your surgeon removes only the cancerous tissue, which reduces scarring potential and maximizes the preservation of healthy skin. 

Due to these benefits, the Mohs technique is the treatment of choice for many cancers of the face and other critical body areas.

Our staff will escort you into the surgical suite where medical questions will be asked along with review of medications and a check of your blood pressure. The doctor will then numb, with a local anesthetic, the area around the skin cancer. We use a far less painful local anesthetic than most other physicians. While the injection may be uncomfortable, our patients routinely tell us that it hurts far less than injections they have received elsewhere.

Once numb, the visible cancer along with a thin layer of normal appearing tissue will be removed. This tissue is carefully mapped by the surgeon and taken to the lab to be processed. A temporary bandage is placed over the wound and you return to the reception area.

The surgical procedure alone takes only 10-15 minutes. However, it takes on the average 45-60 minutes to prepare and examine the tissues of each layer. Large skin cancers may take significantly longer. Although, there is no way to tell how many layers will be necessary to remove the entire cancer, most are removed in 3 layers or less.

Since we do not know in advance how much time is necessary to remove the skin cancer and repair the wound, we ask that you plan for the possibility of being in the office the entire day. Please do not make other commitments. Most patients are here, however, 3-4 hours.

Verbal instructions for wound care will be covered in detail after surgery. We will also provide a written set of instructions with contact numbers should you have additional questions.

When you leave, there will be a big bulky dressing over your surgical site, which needs to stay in place for the next 24 hours. Many patients choose to remain home the day after surgery. In general, this is a good idea. The doctor will tell you if any additional time off is needed. We are happy to provide a work excuse if necessary.

Please avoid strenuous activity for 1 week after surgery unless otherwise instructed. Activities that increase your heart rate and blood pressure (exercising, sports, lifting heavy objects, yard work) increase your chance of developing post-op complications including bleeding and infection.

Flying on an airplane can complicate your recovery and we request at least 48 hours after surgery before airplane travel.

Bruising and swelling vary considerably among patients. Assume that you will be bruised and/or swollen for a week or even longer. The site of your surgery and your activity level contributes to the amount of bruising and/or swelling you may have.

Mohs surgery is generally covered by most insurances. However, we recommend consulting with your insurance provider to make sure this skin cancer treatment is covered under your individual healthcare plan. 

After identifying one or two symptoms of skin cancer on your body, you will meet with a dermatologist for a professional skin cancer screening. If your dermatologist gives you a skin cancer diagnosis, they will provide you with a number of treatment options based on your individual circumstances. 

If Mohs surgery is the best possible choice, our team will work closely with you to find a calendar date that is ideal for your procedure and help you prepare with a handy Mohs surgery preparation guide. 

If you have already received a skin cancer diagnosis, we recommend you contact our dermatology office in Westerville, Ohio, and schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified dermatologists. After reviewing your individual case, we can determine if Mohs surgery is the ideal choice and schedule a date for your procedure. 

Photos

Mohs Surgery Photos

If you have identified potential skin cancer symptoms on a highly-sensitive part of your body, such as the face, neck, scalp or hands, Mohs surgery may be the best option for treatment.
We urge you to review the photos below to get a better idea of what happens during Mohs surgery and schedule an appointment with one of our trusted, board-certified dermatologists for a professional evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment plan.

Close-up Surgeon Burns A Mole On The Back Of The Patient. Mole Removal Surgery Procedure
Surgery. Close Up Of Skin Cancer Excision Process.Local Anaesthetic.
Dermatologist Removing A Patient's Mole
Doctor Oncologist Examines The Body Of A Male Patient For Malignant Moles, Nevus, Skin Cancer, Copy Space, Fibroma
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Trusted Skin Cancer Treatment in Westerville, Ohio

If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer by another doctor or have recently noticed some suspicious skin cancer symptoms, our providers are here to help. At the Center for Surgical Dermatology, our trusted team of board-certified dermatologists and skin care specialists are highly trained and experienced in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating a wide range of skin cancers with reputable treatment, such as Mohs Surgery. They have helped countless individuals optimize and maintain their skin health through professional care. 

Schedule your skin cancer treatment in Westerville, Ohio, by requesting an appointment online or by calling our clinic at (614) 847-4100. 

Contact Us Today

Have questions or concerns? Please give us a call at 614.847.4100.

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