What is Mohs Surgery?
Also called Mohs micrographic surgery, Mohs surgery is a unique surgical treatment for skin cancer. It enables the surgeon to identify the exact areas to which the cancer has spread. The surgeon is able to completely remove cancer cells from all detected areas. Mohs surgery offers a precise technique for cancer treatment. It allows the surgeon to spare as much healthy skin as possible. This is especially significant in cases where the cancer is in an area with a smaller amount of skin tissue, such as the eyelids, ears, or hands. Mohs surgery provides the highest cure rate and smallest scar for many types of skin cancers. Depending on the diagnosis, location, and other features of your skin cancer, your doctor may recommend Mohs surgery.Why Choose Mohs Surgery?
- Mohs surgery is very effective, because it is performed until there are no cancerous cells left in the region. Even the smallest cancerous cell is removed. For a patient who has a standard skin tumor and is receiving the treatment for the first time, the chance of success is 98% to 99%.
- In about 80% of patients, all cancerous cells are removed by removing only a single layer of skin.
- The required incision is smaller due to the layer-by-layer removal of affected cells. As a result, post-surgical marks are minimized and healing is faster. Skin reconstruction after Mohs surgery is much less extensive than with other options.
- The overall surgical time is reduced, because the surgeon does not have to wait for pathology reports to find out if the cancer site has more cancer cells, since the surgeon is the one performing the pathological examination. The procedure time is reduced to around 2.5 to 4 hours in most cases.
- The surgery is almost completely free of pain or discomfort. An anesthetic is administered before the surgery. Pain after the surgery is minimal and is usually relieved using common OTC medicines.
Procedure
This technique was named after Frederick Mohs who developed the approach in the 1930s. It involves excising the skin cancer and then evaluating 100% of the excised margin while you wait. The excised tissue is examined under a microscope to evaluate for the presence of cancerous cells. Preparation of the skin tissue for examination under the microscope may take 45 minutes or longer. The process of excising additional skin and examining it is repeated until clear margins are confirmed. Most patients are cleared of their skin cancers in 1-3 “layers” of Mohs surgery.
Dr.Perlis performing Mohs Micrographic SurgeryAfter Mohs Surgery
Once the skin cancer is confirmed cleared, the resulting skin defect is repaired. Sometimes the defect may be allowed to heal on its own (second intention), while other times it must be reconstructed with sutures. If the wound requires sutures, you may be asked to follow up in 1 to 3 weeks to have the sutures removed. After the sutures are removed, the incision is not completely healed. Your scar will continue to mature and improve for an entire year. Some patients may benefit from addition revisions or dermabrasion to optimize the final cosmetic result.Have Questions? Please Call (215) 390-1449A pain free & positive experience
Dr Perlis just performed Mohs surgery on me & made it a pain free & positive experience. He & his staff are very thorough & professional while being pleasant & caring. I will definitely refer my family & friends to this practice!!!
Joyce Van NewkirkMohs Surgery: The Most Effective Treatment for Skin Cancer
Why Choose Keystone Dermatology Partners?
Dr. Perlis and his team are particularly skilled in Mohs surgery. He completed an internship in general surgery at the University of Pennsylvania as well as a one year Mohs fellowship through the American College of Mohs Surgery at Brown University. He and his team have successfully performed over 12,000 Mohs surgeries since he returned to the region over ten years ago.
