WHAT IS MOHS MICROGRAPHIC SURGERY?

This procedure was developed in the 1930s by Dr. Frederic Mohs at the University of Wisconsin and is now practiced throughout the world. The Mohs surgeon removes the tissue, examines it under a microscope, and verifies that all of the cancereous cells have been removed. The procedure is repeated, if necessary, until the margins are clear of cancer. It is usually done on an outpatient basis, in one day, under local anesthetic. Of all treatments for skin cancer, Mohs Micrographic Surgery offers up to a 99% cure rate for basal and squamous cell carcinomas.  

Mohs Surgery typically is used for those skin cancers that are in a cosmetically sensitive area, such as the nose, ears, eyelids, lips, hairline, hands, feet, and genitals, in which maximal preservation of healthy tissue is critical for cosmetic or functional purposes. This surgery is also useful for cancers which have recurred following previous treatment or for cancers that are at high risk for recurrence, due to large or aggressive tumors, and borders that are hard to define. It ensures peace of mind for the patient who knows that the cancer is gone entirely.