Mohs Surgery
Most effective method of skin cancer removal
Mohs surgery has up to a 99% cure rate, higher than any other skin cancer treatment
At Columbia Skin Clinic, our board-certified, fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon serves as both the pathologist and reconstructive surgeon and will complete the Mohs micrographic surgery in stages during one patient visit.
Mohs surgery, using microscopic control, allows the surgeon to trace out the extent of the tumor and remove only diseased tissue. This unique outpatient procedure offers the best cure rate and allows the surgeon to save as much normal, healthy tissue as possible, which leads to faster recovery times and less scarring.
What happens during Mohs surgery?
The physician will examine the biopsied area of your skin cancer and label the area that needs to be removed.
Next, local anesthesia will be injected into the area, so it will remain numb throughout the process.
The surgeon will extract small layers of the cancerous tissue, using mapping and color-coding. While you wait, they will then use a microscope to analyze edges and undersides of the sample. Depending on the assessment, the Mohs surgeon may need to remove another layer of skin until all cancer cells are confirmed to be gone.
After all of the cancer cells have been targeted and removed, the surgeon will close the wound with stitches or another reconstructive method depending on the size of the area.
Afterwards, the staff at Columbia Skin Clinic will provide you with a full explanation regarding the healing process and care instructions.
What types of cancer does Mohs surgery treat?
Mohs surgery is ideal for treating the two most common forms of skin cancer: basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs).
Mohs surgery is considered for these types of cancers when the …
- Cancer is large
- Edges of the cancer cannot be clearly determined
- Cancer has been treated before and as recurred
- Cancer is located in certain locations on the body where other treatment methods have been found not to be adequately effective.
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With four convenient locations in the Midlands, Columbia Skin Clinic has a commitment to delivering excellent dermatology care.
