This surgical technique is a highly effective treatment option for skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, caused primarily by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma are the three most common types of skin cancer and are highly treatable when caught early.
Mohs micrographic surgery is a specialized surgical technique for the treatment of skin cancer that involves removing and examining layers of skin until only cancer-free tissue remains. It is the only specialty in medicine where the surgeon is also the pathologist, and it is considered the most effective treatment for BCC and SCC. An advanced technique called immunostaining has made it possible to also treat melanomas using Mohs surgery.
How Does It Work?
During Mohs surgery, patients remain awake and receive local anesthesia to numb the operative site. The surgeon will then remove a thin layer of the skin and thoroughly examine it under a microscope, repeating this step until the cancer is completely removed. Afterward, the removal site will be reconstructed during the same appointment. Surgery typically takes two to three hours, with the patient spending the majority of this time waiting comfortably in a room while the tissue is prepared for analysis.
The Benefits of Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery offers the highest cure rates among skin cancer treatments and minimizes the risk of recurrence. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, it can effectively cure up to 99% of skin cancers that haven’t been treated before and 94% that have returned after initial treatment. It also spares healthy tissue and leaves the smallest possible scar. Both surgery and reconstruction take place in a single, outpatient visit, and most patients can return to work the next day.
An Expert Weighs In
Meet the Author
Rachel Studebaker, BA, English, Summa Cum Laude
Rachel Studebaker is a graduate of Lee University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in advertising with the distinction of summa cum laude and served as editor-in-chief of the university’s biannual magazine, The Vindagua. After graduation, Rachel joined CMC Media & Marketing Group as an editor. Today, she serves as managing editor and is responsible for leading the editorial team in the development and completion of content for 17 publications involving health & wellness, business, sports, and lifestyle published in print and online for HealthScope® and CityScope® magazines as well as Choose Chattanooga® and Choose Huntsville™ – premier publications serving Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia, and North Alabama. In addition to writing, editing, and coordinating copy, Rachel oversees networking and reputation management for the company’s publications. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, attending concerts, trying new restaurants, and traveling with her husband.
