What’s the idea behind Mohs surgery?

Most skin cancers consist of visible tumors, but sometimes they grow “fingers” of cancer extending into surrounding healthy skin that are so small they can only be found with a microscope. Any cancer cells left behind can cause the tumor to reappear.

The conventional approach to operating on skin cancers is to cut out the visible tumor. Since the tumor may or may not really be cancerous, your surgeon will also remove a margin of healthy tissue. Then, in 99% of cases, the tumor will be sent off to a lab ยูฟ่าเบท for analysis. If the pathology report comes back a few days later and your tumor turns out to be an aggressive form of cancer, like melanoma, you will be ask to come back for another surgery.

Mohs surgery takes a different approach.

In 100% of Mohs surgeries, you will know. That the skin cancer being treated is entirely removed before you leave the office. 

Mohs surgery is the treatment of choice for most skin cancers on the neck and face and the more aggressive skin cancers. Has a 94% success rate for tumors. That have previously treat. It has a 99% success rate for tumors. That have not been treated before.

What is it like to have Mohs surgery?

Mohs surgery is done in a single visit. It may be a little uncomfortable, and it can run a little long, but your dermatologist will control pain with a local anesthetic. 

Here’s what you can expect during your Mohs surgery:

Exam and prep

If you are schedule it has already confirme. That you have one or more skin cancers that need to remove. If you are having on your face, you may stay in your street clothes the whole time you are in the office. If you are having surgery on some other part of your body, you may need to put on a hospital gown.

You will be put into the position. That gives the physician best access tumor. 

Top layer removal

Next, the doctor will inject a local anesthetic to control any pain. The top layer of cells will shave off with a scalpel and immediately taken to the onsite lab. This procedure takes just a few seconds. But you will have to wait a while for the doctor and a technologist to perform the next step.