Mohs surgery was developed at the University of Wisconsin in the 1930s. This procedure uses a specialized technique to remove cancerous areas on the skin.
What is Mohs surgery?
Mohs surgery is a skin surgery used to treat basal and squamous cell skin cancers as well as other less common types. These types of cancers are commonly linked to sun exposure.
Mohs surgery is a type of micrographic surgery. During a micrographic surgery, tissue is analyzed under a microscope as it is removed.
During each stage of Mohs surgery, your surgeon removes the involved the areas of skin involved with cancer. This is examined under a microscope while you wait.
Your surgeon will continue to remove areas of skin involved with until a plane free of cancer cells is reached. This approach ensures the removal of all cancer cells. The technique also leaves more healthy tissue behind, which reduces scarring.
When you arrive for your Mohs surgery, a member of our team will clean and numb your skin.
Once your skin is numb, your surgeon will use a scalpel to remove the involved tissue in the affected area. After each stage of tissue removal, your tissue is analyzed. This process will continue until the cancer is cleared and the wound is ready to be closed.
The size and location of your cancer will affect the time it takes to complete your Mohs surgery. It’s best to plan for the procedure to last a full day.
Complete healing from Mohs surgery can take a year or longer. While scarring is often minimal, all forms of skin surgery leave a scar. Your doctor will give you instructions to care for your wound. It’s important to follow these instructions to ensure proper healing and to reduce scarring.
Your doctor will also advise you about when you can resume regular activity.
Watch: What to expect after Mohs surgery on your face, neck or head
Watch: What to expect after Mohs surgery on your arms, feet or trunk area
Junction Rd Medical Center Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery Clinic
William Aughenbaugh, MD
DermatologyJuliet Aylward, MD
Mohs and Dermatologic SurgeryAndrew Swanson, MD
Mohs and Dermatologic SurgeryAnnika Weinhammer, MD
DermatologyYaohui (Gloria) Xu, MD, PhD
Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery