How is Mohs Surgery Performed?
The Mohs technique involves advanced diagnostics and precision surgery. Before the procedure begins, your doctor will numb the area, so you can remain comfortable.
First, the visible part of the tumor is removed, along with a thin layer of additional tissue. Healthy skin is preserved, making the healing process much more comfortable with minimal scarring.
The removed tissue, and the treated area are carefully marked for accurate orientation. The tissue is then completely removed and a map is created to show the exact orientation of the cancer on the skin. These maps can be hand-drawn or made with digital photographs.
The specimen and map are taken to an on-site laboratory where special inks are used to color the margins of the tissue. Matching colors are used on the map to preserve the orientation of the specimen.
The cancerous specimen is then processed and cut into sections that are placed on microscope sides. The slides are then stained and examined by your surgeon under the microscope. Any residual skin cancer identified under the microscope is precisely mapped, using the inked colors to pinpoint the residual tumor.
The surgeon then returns to the patient and removes only the tissue that contains cancer. This procedure is repeated until 100% of the skin cancer is removed. Once this is achieved, the skin is then repaired using reconstructive surgery to give the absolute best cosmetic result.
Because of the precise nature of The Mohs technique, and the fact that the cancers are removed layer by layer down to their roots, Mohs surgery offers higher cure rates than any other type of skin cancer treatment.
Mohs surgery spares healthy tissue by going after only the tissue affected by the skin cancer. Mohs surgery is an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthetic. Patients go home the same day knowing that their cancer has been completely removed, with a less than 1% chance of ever coming back.
Contact Sanova Dermatology
If you are seeking treatment for skin cancer, contact Sanova Dermatology and schedule an appointment to find out if you are a good candidate for Mohs microscopic surgery.