Mohs’ micrographic surgery is a highly effective and advanced treatment
for skin cancer. This treatment was originally developed in the 1950s
by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs. Since Dr. Mohs' breakthrough development, the
procedure has become the most effective, advanced, and precise treatment
for a variety of skin cancers.
The procedure is unique among skin cancer treatments and has multiple advantages—including
a 99% cure rate. The primary goal of this surgery is to remove all cancerous
cells while leaving healthy tissue intact helping to minimize scarring
and giving the optimal cosmetic repair.
How Does Mohs’ Micrographic Surgery Work?
Mohs’ micrographic surgery is an outpatient procedure and is performed
in the office setting. In most cases, surgery begins in the morning and
is completed the same day, depending on the extent of the tumor and the
amount of reconstruction necessary. The patient is awake throughout the
procedure. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area around the tumor.
Once numbed, the surgeon removes the visible pieces of the tumor and a
thin layer of surrounding tissue. The tissue is processed in a special
technique and slides of the tissue are rapidly produced. The layer is
placed on a slide, stained, and examined by the surgeon under a microscope.
If signs of remaining cancer are evident, another layer of tissue is removed
precisely from the area where the cancer was detected. This is how the
surgeon ensures only cancerous tissue is removed. These steps are repeated
until the surgeon views a sample that is free of cancerous tissue. Generally,
most tumors require one to three stages for complete removal.
What Happens After Surgery?
After surgery, the wound is assessed, and the surgeon discusses reconstruction
options with the patient.
Various repair options are possible, including:
Simple closure
Flaps
Grafts
Allowing a wound to heal on its own
In most cases, these techniques are the same as performed by plastic surgery.
Each wound is unique, and the best repair is chosen for a given defect.
The surgeon nearly always performs these plastic surgery repairs on the
same day as tumor removal.
Another advantage of this surgery is that the procedure can be used to
cure skin cancer when other treatment methods have failed. Some other
methods do not employ the precise identification for the removal of cancerous
tissue. Therefore, healthy skin may be removed unnecessarily, or the tumor
may regrow if any of the unidentified cancerous tissue is left behind.
The Mohs’ technique is mainly utilized in the treatment of basal
cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, the most common types of skin
cancer, but can also be used on other less common skin cancers.
What Training Does a Mohs’ Micrographic Surgeon Receive?
A fellowship-trained Mohs’ surgeon completes an extensive fellowship
that requires at least one full year of training and hands-on experience
after completing their dermatology residency. Mohs’ surgery specialty
training educates physicians in the areas of cancer surgery, pathology,
and reconstructive surgery. Mohs surgery is unique in that the same physician
can perform all these steps.
Mohs surgery is certainly an excellent option for skin cancer treatment.
But there are ways to help prevent skin cancer. Along with using sunscreen
as protection, avoiding sun exposure when possible and performing outside
activities early and late in the day can reduce your risk of sun damage.
Early detection of skin cancers by regular skin self-exams to look for
warning signs can allow for the optimal cure of skin cancers.
If you believe this skin cancer treatment is right for you, contact our
office by calling
325.747.2215 or completing our
online form.
