Mohs Surgery

What Is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs surgery, named after Frederick Mohs, is the most effective technique available in treating skin cancer. Performed in an outpatient procedure, Mohs surgery entirely removes the affected skin cancer area while sparing the surrounding healthy skin.

When Is Mohs Surgery Appropriate?

Mohs surgery is commonly used to remove large skin cancers, skin cancers in hard-to-reach places, recurrent skin cancers, and those occurring in areas where preservation of the skin is essential (such as the tissue surrounding the eyes and nose). This procedure can be performed on basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas. It may also be useful for melanoma.

What Can I Expect During The Treatment?

One of our specially trained Mohs’ surgeons begins the procedure by numbing the affected area with local anesthesia. The cancerous growth is removed in thin layers, which takes about five to ten minutes.

The Mohs’ surgeon then examines the layers under the microscope, a procedure which takes 30 to 45 minutes. Smaller thinner layers are removed until a layer is found to be cancer-free. Mohs surgery is complete in just one office visit and has a nearly 100 per cent cure rate. Most Patients experience little or no discomfort during or after surgery.