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What is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery, also called Mohs micrographic surgery, is a surgical procedure to remove skin cancers. Mohs surgery is useful for removing cancers that are growing quickly, have recurred, are large, or are located on visible parts of the body. Mohs surgery is carried out to treat basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and types of melanoma.
How is Mohs Surgery carried out?
- The surgeon removes a section of the visible cancer together with a thin layer of skin.
- The skin is taken to the laboratory and examined under a microscope.
- The skin is stained with dye, mapped and checked for the presence of additional cancer cells.
- Any remaining cancer is located on the body and removed in another layer of tissue. The steps in the procedure are repeated until the final layer removed is confirmed to be cancer-free.
What are the chances of success with Mohs Surgery?
According to MedicineNet, Mohs surgery cure rates are reported to be as high as 96 to 99 percent. Mohs surgery allows the maximum removal of skin cancer cells while leaving healthy skin intact.
What surgeon performs Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery is performed by an experienced surgeon with expertise in dermatology, dermatologic surgery or dermatopathology and typically in a doctor’s office with a specialized Mohs surgery laboratory.
Duration of procedure/surgery:Mohs surgery lasts between 2 to 7 hours. Patients generally wait in the office while the tissue layer is examined. You will not know beforehand how long the procedure will take as it depends on how ex
Days admitted:None. Mohs surgery is carried out on an outpatient basis.
Anesthesia:Local anesthesia at the site of the skin cancer.
Recovery:- Full recovery depends on the extent of the Mohs surgery and is typically between 2 and 4 weeks.
- Patients return to work and everyday light activities the day following Mohs surgery.
Risks:- Bleeding.
- Infection.
- Pain or numbness around the surgery site.
- Scarring.
After care:- Take pain relievers for mild to moderate pain.
- Avoid heavy lifting or straining for 1 to 3 weeks following Mohs surgery.
- Keep the surgery site dry for 24 hours following the Mohs surgery procedure.
- Avoid using make-up over the surgery site until healing is complete.
Learn more about Mohs Surgery