Mohs surgery is a precise surgical technique used to treat skin cancer. It is also known as Mohs micrographic surgery. It is named after Dr. Frederic Mohs because of a technique Dr. Mohs developed in the 1930s.
During Mohs surgery, the physician's goal is to not only remove the cancer, but also minimize the chance of it returning while preserving as much healthy skin as possible. A surgeon will remove a thin layer of skin containing cancer cells one at a time and examine each layer under a microscope. The process is repeated until there are no cancer cells left in the removed tissue. This allows the surgeon to remove all of the cancerous tissue while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
Mohs surgery is particularly useful for treating skin cancers that have a high risk of recurrence or are located in areas where preserving healthy tissue is critical, such as the face, ears, or hands. The procedure is typically done on an outpatient basis, and patients can usually go home the same day. The recovery time will vary for each patient.
Overall, Mohs surgery has a high cure rate for skin cancer and is considered one of the most effective treatments available. It can be used to treat: Basal cell carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma, Melanoma, and other forms of skin cancer.
Dr. Dolehide is a fellowship-trained and board-certified Mohs surgeon.
