When you are diagnosed with skin cancer, we understand that it can be scary and stressful. Thankfully, there is a very effective procedure called Mohs surgery to eliminate cancerous tissue for the best possible outcomes. This technique requires multiple steps but is an efficient and proven way to eliminate skin cancers. Read on to learn more about the Mohs surgery process and what to expect.

The Mohs Surgery Process

Examination and Prep

Your doctor will perform a biopsy on the suspicious-looking lesion to determine if it is malignant (cancerous). Then your doctor will remove a small piece of healthy tissue to examine it under a microscope. This specimen is analyzed to determine how fast the cancerous cells are growing, how far they have spread, and what kind of cells they are.

Top Layer Removal and Microscopic Examination

Mohs surgery is a type of excisional surgery. The doctor progressively removes thin layers of cancer-containing skin and examines it under a microscope. This process is repeated until only cancer-free tissue remains. The main goal of this procedure is to remove as much skin cancer as possible while inflicting minimal damage to healthy surrounding tissue.

Recovery

Once all of the cancer has been removed with Mohs surgery, your surgeon will determine how he or she would like the wound to heal. Options may include using stitches to close the wound, letting the wound heal on its own, using a skin flap to cover the wound, or using a skin graft from another area of the body to cover the wound. Our team will provide you with specific aftercare instructions regarding how to care for your Mohs incision site for the best results.

What Types of Cancer can Mohs Surgery Treat?

Mohs surgery is performed to treat the most common skin cancers, which include squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and some kinds of melanoma. This procedure is very useful for skin cancers that have a high risk of recurrence, are large or aggressive, have hard-to-define borders, or are located where you wish to preserve as much healthy tissue as you can, such as around the eyes, mouth, hands, feet, etc.

Contact Us

If you would like to learn more about Mohs surgery at Silver Falls Dermatology, contact us today. We will be happy to schedule your appointment with one of our surgeons to discuss if this procedure is right for you.