Patient Education

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Developed by Frederic E. Mohs, M.D. in the 1930s, Mohs Micrographic Surgery for the removal of skin cancer is a highly precise, effective method that excises not only the visible tumor but also any “roots” that may have extended beneath the skin surface. Five-year cure rates have been demonstrated up to 99 percent for first-treatment cancers and 95 percent for recurrent cancers.

Mohs surgery involves the systematic removal and microscopic analysis of thin layers of tissue at the tumor site until all of the cancer has been eliminated. The immediate and complete microscopic examination and evaluation of excised tissue is what differentiates Mohs surgery from other cancer removal procedures.

Only cancerous tissue is removed, minimizing both post-operative wound size and the chance of recurrence. In addition, the entire tumor is cleared and the site repaired in one session.

Mohs physicians are highly trained to function as surgeon, pathologist and reconstructive surgeon during the cancer removal process. Our Mohs surgeons have completed advanced training after dermatology residency through the American Society for Mohs Surgery and all have extensive experience.

Mohs surgery is performed under local anesthetic in our state-of-the art office equipped with surgical and laboratory facilities, and supported by Mohs-trained nursing and technical staff.

Mohs surgery is most commonly used for basal and squamous cell carcinomas, although it can be recommended for the eradication of other cancers such as melanoma. Cancers that are likely to recur or have already recurred are often treated using this technique because it is so thorough. High precision makes Mohs surgery ideal for the elimination of cancers in cosmetically and functionally critical areas such as the face, hands, feet and genitals.