“What exactly is MOHS Micrographic Surgery?”
I was diagnosed with skin cancer and the doctors are removing the areas through MOHS Micrographic Surgery. How exactly does that surgery work? Is it better than typical surgery for removing the skin cancers?
1 Answer
What is Mohs surgery?
Mohs Surgery is an in-office procedure that was developed for precise and effective removal of skin cancers. It is named after the surgeon that developed the method - Dr Frederic Mohs. During Mohs surgery your surgeon will remove your skin cancer and surrounding skin, one thin layer at a time. Each time a layer is removed, your surgeon examines it underneath a microscope, checking for cancerous cells. In other words, a Mohs surgeon acts as both surgeon and pathologist during your procedure. The surgery continues until your surgeon removes a layer that contains no cancer cells at all. Mohs surgery spares as much healthy skin as possible and leaves just a slight scar.
What are some advantages of Mohs surgery?
The greatest advantage of Mohs surgery is its high cure rate - up to 99% depending on your type of skin cancer and whether it has been previously treated. Also, the fact that it can be done in the office while you wait makes it cost-effective, too. You can get Mohs surgery for small or large lesions, including those with indistinct edges. It is especially beneficial in cosmetically sensitive areas where your doctor will want to spare as much healthy surrounding skin as possible. Mohs surgery has this capability because your skin cancer margins are traditionally checked in the office while you wait.
Mohs Surgery is an in-office procedure that was developed for precise and effective removal of skin cancers. It is named after the surgeon that developed the method - Dr Frederic Mohs. During Mohs surgery your surgeon will remove your skin cancer and surrounding skin, one thin layer at a time. Each time a layer is removed, your surgeon examines it underneath a microscope, checking for cancerous cells. In other words, a Mohs surgeon acts as both surgeon and pathologist during your procedure. The surgery continues until your surgeon removes a layer that contains no cancer cells at all. Mohs surgery spares as much healthy skin as possible and leaves just a slight scar.
What are some advantages of Mohs surgery?
The greatest advantage of Mohs surgery is its high cure rate - up to 99% depending on your type of skin cancer and whether it has been previously treated. Also, the fact that it can be done in the office while you wait makes it cost-effective, too. You can get Mohs surgery for small or large lesions, including those with indistinct edges. It is especially beneficial in cosmetically sensitive areas where your doctor will want to spare as much healthy surrounding skin as possible. Mohs surgery has this capability because your skin cancer margins are traditionally checked in the office while you wait.
