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Mohs Surgery
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| ?ohs surgery defined with procedure benefits,
length of plastic surgery procedure, and costs involved. View
patient before and after photos, and find a dermatologist
who is a specialist with Mohs surgery. |
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 More
than one million Americans are diagnosed with some form of
skin
cancer every year. However, when detected early, skin
cancer has an extremely high cure rate. While any form of
cancer gives cause for concern, modern surgical techniques
are becoming better and better at successfully treating skin
cancer.
Cell re-growth is the major problem with most types of skin
cancer. Techniques such as scraping or cutting are designed
to completely remove cancer cells, but if diseased cells remain
in the skin, it�s possible that they will begin to grow again.
Mohs surgery was designed to eliminate cell re-growth. This
procedure entails using microscopes and a special mapping
technique to determine the exact location of all cancerous
cells in the skin. Doctors are then able to remove the cancer
without fear of re-growth from remaining cells.
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What are some of the most common benefits of this procedure?
What will happen in the initial consultation?
How is the procedure performed?
How long do the treatments take?
Where is the treatment performed?
How much pain is there?
What can I expect afterward?
Ideal candidate?
Other important information:
Risks and limitations:
Costs:
Choosing a doctor:
Questions to ask your doctor:
Be sure to:
Related Articles
How do I finance this procedure?
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| What are some
of the most common benefits of this procedure? |
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The most obvious benefit of Mohs surgery
is the elimination of cancerous growths from the patient�s
skin. Studies have shown that, in individuals who have
had at least one failed skin cancer treatment, Mohs
surgery is 96-98% effective in giving a complete cure.
In contrast, other forms of surgery offer only a 50-75%
chance of eliminating cancers in which other treatments
have failed.
In other forms of skin cancer treatment, cutting or
scraping often removes healthy skin as well as cancerous
cells. But, by identifying exactly which cells are cancerous,
Mohs surgery saves as many healthy cells as possible
while eliminating each and every cancer cell.
If you're considering Mohs surgery, the following information
will provide you with a good introduction to the procedure.
For more detailed information about how this procedure
may help you, we recommend that you consult a dermatologist
with experience in Mohs surgery. |
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| What will happen
in the initial consultation? |
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Before the doctor performs this procedure,
he/she will arrange for a consultation with you. During
this time, the doctor will explain the different options
available to you, the procedure itself, and its risks
and limitations. He/she will also explain the kind of
anesthesia required, the location where it will be performed,
and the costs.
Your doctor will begin with a complete medical history
and an examination of your skin. He/she may ask to do
a biopsy of the cancerous tissue in order to determine
the type of cancer present. He/she may also take photos,
and give you specific instructions on how to prepare
for the procedure.
Take this opportunity to ask all the questions you have
about the procedure. Also ask for, and follow up on,
patient references. Learning everything you can about
your options, risks and benefits is the key to making
an informed decision. See Questions
to ask your doctor below. |
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| How is the procedure
performed? |
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During Mohs surgery, the doctor begins
by removing the obvious and visible areas of growth
on the skin by cutting or scraping. Next, an additional
thin layer of skin is removed from the cancer site and
injected with dye to help identify its original location
on the patient�s body. The removed layer is then carefully
examined under a microscope in order to determine whether
any cancer cells remain. If none are found, then the
surgery is complete.
If your doctor does find cancerous cells in the removed
layer, he/she will remove another small layer of skin
from the area where the cancer remains. He/she will
repeat this process until certain that all of the potentially
harmful cells have been removed.
After surgery, the remaining wound is usually closed
either by sutures, a skin graft or a skin flap. In some
cases, the wound is left to heal on its own. |
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| How long do the
treatments take? |
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The removal of each layer of skin takes
one to two hours. However, the entire procedure takes
several hours. Time is allotted for preparation as well
as for analysis of the tissue following the surgery.
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| Where is the
treatment performed? |
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Mohs surgery can be performed in the doctor�s
office or in a surgical suite, depending on your preferences
as well as your doctor�s. The procedure is generally
done on an outpatient basis using a local anesthetic.
Sometimes a mild sedative is administered as well. |
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| How much pain
is there? |
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The amount of pain experienced varies
from person to person, and depends on how much skin
is actually removed. You should discuss your goals,
budget, and pain tolerance with your doctor in order
to help him/her determine the procedure, or combination
of procedures, that will produce the best results for
you.
After the procedure is performed, you should experience
only minor discomfort. Your doctor may prescribe a mild
pain medication to relieve these symptoms. You should
avoid taking Ibuprofen and aspirin as they may increase
bleeding. |
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| What can I expect
afterward? |
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Some patients experience mild bleeding
following the procedure. Your doctor may use a gauze
pad combined with constant pressure in order to minimize
this bleeding. Swelling, bruising and scabbing are common
following Mohs surgery, and small areas of redness may
develop around the wound. Most of these problems should
disappear within five to seven days. |
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| Ideal candidate: |
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In general, the best candidates for Mohs
surgery are:
- Individuals with skin cancer around the nose,
ears or eyes
- Individuals with cancer on the surface of the
skin
- Mature enough to fully understand the procedure
- Knowledgeable about the procedure
- In good physical and psychological health
- Non-smokers or able to stop smoking during the
healing process
- Realistic in their expectations
The above is only a partial list of the criteria that
your doctor will consider in determining whether or
not this procedure is appropriate for you. Be sure to
ask your doctor if he/she considers you an ideal candidate.
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| Other important
information: |
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There are a number of alternatives to
Mohs surgery, including elliptical excision, freezing,
and radiation. Each of these procedures offers a different
way to eliminate skin cancer. Ask your doctor for help
in determining which is best for you. |
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| Risks and limitations: |
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Because this procedure involves cutting
as little healthy tissue as possible, the area of excision
is kept to a minimum. However, it is common for patients
to form scars wherever tissue is removed. If scarring
is a problem, a second, minor procedure can be performed
about two months after the original Mohs surgery. |
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| Costs: |
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Costs for this procedure vary, depending
on the doctor, the location, technique used and the
difficulty of the specific case.
Use our payment
calculator to see what your monthly payments might
be if you financed this procedure.
Apply
now |
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| Choosing a doctor: |
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It is very important that you select a
physician adequately trained and experienced in this
procedure. See our Physician
Locator feature to find a dermatologist in your
area, including detailed profile information for many
of the listed doctors. Also read How
to Select a Dermatologist for a more detailed discussion
on choosing the right doctor.
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| Questions to
ask your doctor: |
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- Are the desired results I described realistic?
- Is there an alternative procedure that I should
consider as well?
- Is there another form of skin cancer treatment
I should try before undergoing Mohs surgery?
- What are the chances that I will experience a
recurrence of skin cancer after Mohs surgery?
- How long will the procedure take?
- What kind of anesthesia is used, if any?
- How much does it cost?
- What is your experience in performing this procedure?
(How long has he/she performed this procedure, and
how many has he/she performed in the past year?)
- What percentages of patients have had significant
complications? (The physician should disclose this
information to you.)
- Will you repeat or correct the procedure if it
does not meet agreed upon goals? And if the procedure
must be repeated / corrected, will I be charged
again? (The physician should provide you with his/her
policy on this issue.)
- May I see "before and after" photos of recent
patients? (The physician should provide many photos
of recent patients.)
- Could I observe the exact procedure I am considering
before I decide to have it done? (Either on videotape
or live.)
- What should I expect after the procedure in terms
of soreness, what to watch for, medication, bathing,
and level of activity?
- Who will be assisting during the procedure? What
are their qualifications? (Does the dermatologist
perform the entire procedure?)
- Have you ever had your malpractice insurance coverage
denied, revoked, suspended?
- Do you offer patient
financing?
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| Be sure to: |
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- Tell your doctor about any allergies you have
(to foods, drugs, environmental elements.)
- Tell your doctor about all medications, herbal
supplements or natural supplements you are taking
(both prescription and non-prescription), including
such natural substances as Echinacea and St. John�s
Wort.
- Be sure to tell your doctor if you smoke. Smoking
can lead to complications and poor healing.
- Carefully follow any instructions your doctor
gives you regarding eating and drinking.
- Avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing medicines
for two weeks prior to the procedure.
The information on this web site is only intended
as an introduction to this procedure. This information
should not be used to determine whether you will have
the procedure performed nor as a guarantee of the result.
The best method of determining your options is to consult
a qualified dermatologist who can answer specific questions
related to your situation. |
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| Related Articles |
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Please review the following articles for
more information on this procedure.
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| How do I finance
this procedure? |
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Did you know that 29% of all Americans
have considered having an elective procedure? Of those,
60% would schedule a procedure immediately if financing
was available. With iEnhance's patient
financing options, money no longer has to be the
barrier between you and your new image. By filling out
our on-line
application you can qualify for a loan in as little
as 30 seconds. |
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