MOHs Surgery

How Mohs Surgery Works

Mohs surgery involves removing skin cancer one layer at a time. Each layer is processed and examined under a microscope immediately while you wait in the office. If cancer cells remain at the margins, another layer is removed from the precise area where cancer was detected. This continues until the tissue is confirmed cancer-free. The entire process -- removal and reconstruction -- is completed during a single office visit.

Wound Closure and Reconstruction

Following completion of Mohs surgery, there are several options for wound healing: allowing the wound to heal on its own, suturing through primary closure, skin grafting, or skin flaps. We sometimes use lasers to assist the healing process during and after the procedure. In almost all cases, reconstruction is performed on-site immediately following the surgery.

When Mohs Surgery is Recommended

Mohs surgery is the treatment of choice for recurrent skin cancers, skin cancers near vital structures such as the eyes, mouth, nose, and ears, and cancers in areas where preserving healthy tissue is critical. It is also recommended for skin cancers in areas that have had previous radiation treatment. Alternative treatments like routine surgical excision or destruction by burning or freezing have lower cure rates than Mohs surgery.

What to Expect

You can expect to stay at least two to four hours, though some patients may need longer depending on the size of the cancer and the number of layers required. The primary goal is 100 percent removal of all cancerous cells, which is completed during your office visit. If your skin cancer has never been treated before, the chance of recurrence after Mohs is less than 1 percent. For previously treated cancers, recurrence is 4 percent or less.

Follow-up visits will be scheduled for several months after surgery. The frequency depends on the size and location of your skin cancer.

Houston's Finest

If you are looking for an experienced team of dermatologists, please contact Bayou City Dermatology today.