Mohs surgery is a treatment for removing skin cancer with a high cure rate. Only dermatologists who have Mohs surgery training can perform this procedure. The team at Dermatology Associates of Texas includes dermatologists trained to perform Mohs surgery. Find out more about Mohs surgery by calling the nearest office today.
MOHS Surgery Q & A
What is Mohs surgery?
Mohs surgery, also known as Mohs micrographic surgery, is a surgical technique for removing certain types of skin cancer.
During Mohs surgery, your dermatologist repeatedly removes thin layers of skin under the cancerous growth until they reach cancer-free tissue.
Mohs surgery is one of the most effective treatments for skin cancer, with a high cure rate. It also provides the most aesthetically pleasing results because it limits the removal of the healthy skin that surrounds your cancerous growth.
Am I a candidate for Mohs surgery?
Your dermatologist determines if you’re a candidate for Mohs surgery after a consultation. They only perform the procedure to remove squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC).
You may be a candidate for Mohs surgery if you have SCC or BCC skin cancer that:
- Covers a large area
- Is aggressively growing
- Appears on a highly visible site (e.g., face, neck, or hands)
- They also perform Mohs surgery on recurring SCC and BCC lesions.
What happens during Mohs surgery?
Your Mohs surgery is performed in the outpatient setting near a lab, but it may take several hours.
First, your surgeon administers a local anesthetic near the site of your cancerous lesion and then removes the visible lesion and a layer of tissue underneath the lesion.
Your dermatologist takes the removed tissue to the lab for an evaluation. If they find any cancer in the sample tissue, your surgeon removes another layer of tissue for evaluation.
This process continues until they reach a layer of skin that’s completely cancer-free.
Your dermatologist then closes your wound.
What happens after Mohs surgery?
The team provides instructions on how to care for your wound once you get home. In addition, they may schedule follow-up visits to monitor the healing process.
With Mohs surgery, you know at the time of the procedure that all the skin cancer is gone. However, the team schedules regular skin cancer checks to monitor your skin and treat suspicious growths when appropriate.
