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Mohs Surgery in Winston-Salem, Thomasville, & Kernersville, NC
Mohs micrographic surgery is a revolutionary type of surgery used to diagnose and treat skin cancer. During Mohs surgery, skin cells are removed one layer at a time and examined under a microscope to check for cancerous cells. The process is continued until noncancerous cells are found.
How Mohs Surgery Is Used
Mohs Micrographic surgery is a state-of-the-art cancer treatment that uses the precision of immediate microscopic examination of the cancerous tissue sample to ensure complete removal of the tumor. Mohs surgery is most commonly used to remove basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas and has many benefits for the patient. Mohs surgery offers the highest cure rate of any treatment modality for removal of non-melanoma skin cancers due to its accuracy in identifying the complete tumor. Mohs surgery is also highly cost-effective since it can be done in the office and has a very low rate of recurrence. Mohs surgery is a tissue-sparing procedure and is ideal for areas of the body where it is important to minimize loss of healthy tissue.
Mohs surgery is performed in our office while the patient is under local anesthesia. The visible tumor is excised (cut out) with a narrow margin and immediately processed by our on-site laboratory. The tissue is then examined under a microscope by our fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon who determines if cancerous cells remain in any area of the cut edge of the tumor specimen. During this time, the patient waits comfortably in a private room. Should cancer still be present, its precise location is mapped out and the patient is re-anesthetized. Another thin layer of tissue is excised in only the affected area, and all steps are repeated until the site is cancer-free.
Generally, closure of the wound occurs immediately after Mohs surgery is completed or on the following day. There are numerous options for closure and reconstruction and we tailor the procedure to the individual needs of each patient while maximizing the cosmetic and functional outcome. Our Mohs surgeon may use side to side closures in which wound edges are sutured together into a straight line. The surgeon may elect to let some wounds heal in by themselves if the situation allows. Flap or graft closures may also be performed for more complicated wounds. Occasionally, a very large wound or particularly complicated reconstruction will be referred to a plastic surgeon, ENT, or oculoplastics for closure.
What to Do Before Mohs Surgery
Before your Mohs surgery, you should stop smoking and stop taking any blood thinning medications, including aspirin. Mohs surgery usually doesn’t require sedation, but you may want to bring someone with you who can drive you home afterward.
Recovery From Mohs Surgery
Recovery from Mohs surgery is fast, usually taking about two weeks. You may be able to return to work the day after your Mohs surgery. As you recover, you should rest and avoid any heavy activity or strenuous exercise. Pain medication is usually not needed, but you may feel some sensitivity around the surgical area for a few days after your procedure.
How Mohs Surgery Compares To Conventional Excision Surgery
Mohs surgery offers many important benefits when compared to conventional excision surgery because Mohs surgery is often more:
- Effective: Boasting a success rate of 99% for initial cases of skin cancer and 94% for recurrent cases
- Cosmetically pleasing: Only a minimal amount of tissue is removed, so you will have little to no scarring
- Comfortable: Usually requiring only local anesthesia because it is far less invasive than conventional excisio
When You Should Call Your Dermatologist
Mohs should be the treatment of choice for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas when:
- The cancer is large
- The edges of cancer cannot be clearly defined
- The cancer is in an area of the body where it is important to minimize loss of normal tissue, both for a cosmetic and functional outcome such as nose, lips, eyelids, scalp, fingers, or toes
- Cancer has been removed before and recurred or was found to still be present on the margins of a recent excision.
- The tumor is an aggressive subtype of squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma, as read on the biopsy
Learn more about Mohs surgery at the link: http://www.skincancermohssurgery.org/mohs-surgery/mohs-procedure.php