Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Our Dermatology Program includes dermatologists who have received specialized fellowship training in Mohs surgery, the most effective technique for treating the two most common types of skin cancer, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, as well as melanoma. This highly specialized surgical procedure has the lowest recurrence rates, highest cure rates and best cosmetic results of any skin cancer treatment.

What to expect

This procedure is done at our clinic in stages, under local anesthesia, which allows our doctors to remove all cancerous cells while avoiding healthy tissue and leaving the least amount of scarring possible. Using microscopic examination, our dermatologic oncologists are able to pinpoint the areas involved with cancer and selectively remove only those areas, preserving as much normal tissue as possible and minimizing scarring.

There are three main steps to Mohs surgery:

1. The surgical removal of the visible portion of the skin cancer and a thin layer of tissue immediately surrounding. This is called a “stage”.
2. The tissue is processed in the lab and examined under the microscope by the Mohs surgeon.
3. The Mohs surgeon will repeat steps 1 and 2 until the tumor is completely removed and the area will then be repaired.

The Mohs surgery technique has a 97 to 99 percent cure rate. Our surgeons will make every effort to obtain the best cosmetic results for you. They may also work in conjunction with other surgical specialists such as facial plastics, oculoplastics, otolaryngology (ENT) and general plastic surgery, as needed.