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Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer: What to Expect

In Melbourne, FL

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers seen in the general population. Sun exposure is generally the culprit in causing skin cancer, but other factors, such as family history, exposure to toxic substances and radiation, and immune system impairment can also cause the uncontrolled growth of skin cells. Mohs surgery has been used since the 1930s to successfully treat many types of skin cancer.

What Is Mohs Surgery?

The Mohs surgical procedure was named for Dr. Frederic Mohs of the University of Wisconsin, who developed the technique. The procedure consists of gradually removing one layer of tissue at a time and examining each layer under a microscope to determine whether all cancerous tissue has been found and removed. The Mohs procedure removes only affected tissue, preserving healthy tissue.

Preparing For Mohs Surgery

You will be under local anesthesia for the procedure. The surgery typically takes about 3 to 4 hours, with waiting periods in between removing tissue to check for cancerous cells. We recommend bringing a book or tablet to occupy you.

We also recommend having someone take you home after the procedure and plan to rest for the remainder of the day.

What Happens During the Mohs Procedure?

For the procedure, after precisely marking/mapping the site/lesion to be removed – a local anesthetic will be injected into the skin to ensure comfort. The doctor will then carefully remove some of the tissue in the affected area. The tissue is then taken to the on-site lab for analysis. If cancer cells are found, the doctor will remove another layer of tissue until no cancerous cells are found during the laboratory analysis. Depending on the size of the wound, the area will either be allowed to heal naturally covered with a bandage or surgically closed by the Mohs surgeon or our plastic surgeon, same day or next day (this will be determined at your consult based on complexity and size/location of your skin cancer).

Aftercare For Mohs Surgery

Your surgeon may use stitches to close the wound created by Mohs surgery. If needed, they will provide you with ointment, antibiotics, bandages, and pain medications to aid healing and to ensure you’re comfortable. Ice packs can also help to reduce swelling.

You may be advised to limit your activity for a period of time to foster good healing of the wound. You will also be scheduled for follow-up visits to ensure your incision is healing properly.

Schedule A Consultation

When detected early, skin cancer can be treated and removed easily with Mohs surgery. At Dermatology + Plastic Surgery, Dr. Nancy Marchell is our board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon and will provide you with the right treatment plan for your skin cancer.

Schedule a consultation today by calling our Melbourne or Indialantic, FL office or using our online contact form.

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