Remove cancerous cells while preserving healthy tissue.

While it’s always possible skin cancer will reoccur following surgical treatment, it is very unlikely with MOHS surgery. MOHS surgery aims to ensure that all skin cancer cells are removed and typically carries a 97-99% cure rate although this may vary from individual to individual and depends in part upon the type of skin cancer.  The cure rate with MOHS surgery compares favorably with radiation therapy and conventional surgical excision, each of which offers a 70-80% cure rate.

While it may seem like a lot of tissue is removed during a MOHS procedure, the truth is that the method actually minimizes the damage to the area by not removing more than is necessary. A small visible growth may be influenced by a large number of cancerous cells underneath the skin, which necessitates the removal of more tissue. Your surgeon will remove enough tissue to ensure all of the cancerous cells are removed but will try to minimize the damage to the area.

It is best to choose a surgeon who has experience in both the MOHS technique and aesthetic surgery to help improve the cosmetic outcome after the procedure. This is especially important when the cancerous cells have caused tumors in the facial skin.

All surgery produces some scarring, but the MOHS technique is used to minimize damage and often results in a very good cosmetic outcome.

One of the biggest benefits of MOHS treatment is that analysis is performed during the procedure so the surgeon can ensure all the cancer cells are removed. Because of this, both the surgery and the reconstruction can be done at once in most cases, eliminating the need for a waiting period or additional procedures. In more complicated cases or where critical facial regions are involved, it is often better to stage the MOHS surgery and reconstruction into two separate procedures.

As with any surgery, there are some risks involved with MOHS, but they are very minor. Bleeding, infection, and scarring can occur, but this is very rare. MOHS is a very safe surgery and is typically necessary for ensuring skin cancer does not cause disfigurement.

Yes, there are other surgeries that are often used to treat skin cancer. MOHS surgery offers superior cure rates and better cosmetic results than either radiation therapy or conventional surgical excision.

Some aggressive forms of skin cancer require other treatment plans, which may not involve MOHS surgery.

The length of the surgery will depend heavily on the tumor. However, most MOHS surgeries take about less than an hour, on average.

As with any surgery, there are some risk factors you should account for when preparing for your procedure. You should stop smoking before and after your treatment, as this can cause a host of complications, including poor healing. Your surgeon may also instruct you to stop using certain supplements before your procedure.