The Advantages of Mohs Surgery For Skin Cancer Treatment

Mohs surgery takes only minutes in the physician’s office under local anesthesia. Once the surgeon removes the visible tumor, they release a thin layer of surrounding skin (called a stage).

They will then examine the tissue under a microscope and continue cutting and testing until clear margins are found. You will wait in a comfortable waiting room during this time.

High Cure Rates

Mohs surgery is the only skin cancer treatment with high cure rates – up to 99% for basal and squamous cell carcinoma and up to 95% for melanoma. It also has the lowest recurrence rates of any skin cancer treatment.

Mohs procedure is done in your doctor’s office or an outpatient surgical facility. After numbing the area with local anesthesia injections, your surgeon removes the visible portion of the tumor and a thin layer of normal-looking skin around it. You are then bandaged.

Next, your surgeon prepares and inspects the tissue under a microscope. If any microscopic roots of the cancer remain at the margins, a map is marked on the specimen, and an additional thin layer is removed precisely where the cancer remains.

The process of removing and testing tissue is repeated until the tumor has negative margins. Then, the surgeon reconstructs the area and closes the wound. The ability of Mohs surgery Memphis to spare healthy tissue makes it an excellent choice for treating skin cancers in delicate areas such as the face, hands, feet, and genitals.

Low Recurrence Rates

Mohs surgery is the only skin cancer treatment that provides the highest possible cure rates and lowest recurrence rates of any method. Mohs surgery is especially effective when treating recurrent or aggressive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and cancers in critical cosmetic locations such as the face, lips, ears, nose, scalp, hands, feet, or genitals.

This is due to the unique Mohs procedure, which enables doctors to accurately map and remove the cancerous tissue while leaving as much healthy skin intact as possible. The system also uses horizontal sections, allowing a clearer view of the tissue margins. This is called the Mohs “truth” technique, as it gives a more accurate assessment of whether any traces of the cancer remain at the tissue edges.

The procedure is usually done in your doctor’s office or a surgical suite rather than the hospital. You will be awake but numb during the process, so you can eat and drink what you normally would.

Minimal to No Scars

Doctors can precisely locate and remove cancerous cells with Mohs surgery while sparing as much healthy skin tissue as possible. This reduces surgical complications and scarring.

During the procedure, your surgeon will remove the visible tumor and a small rim of healthy tissue around it. This tissue will be cut into sections and stained with dyes, then examined under a microscope to see if it contains any remaining cancer. This process continues until the surgeon finds no more cancer at the margins and can confidently declare that the tumor is completely removed.

Because this process is so precise, you’ll rarely need reconstruction after Mohs surgery. However, if you’re dealing with a large tumor or a tumor in a cosmetically sensitive area, your doctor may need to close the wound with stitches or cover it with a skin graft. They will let you know what options are available before your appointment.

Fast Recovery

Mohs surgery is done with local anesthesia, so you stay awake but comfortable. After the area is numb, the surgeon cuts out the visible cancer and a small margin of healthy skin around it. Then, you’ll be bandaged and asked to sit while the surgeon looks at the tissue under a microscope to see if any cancer cells remain. If they don’t see any, you can go home.

A paper map is marked on the specimen if cancer cells are detected. This map guides the surgeon to the exact location of the cancer, saving as much healthy skin as possible.

The surgeon can usually close the wound on the same day. The damage will take 2-4 weeks to heal, but it’s essential to keep it covered with the bandage or dressing as directed by your doctor. It is also necessary to avoid putting pressure on the wound until it has healed.