Skin cancer affects one in five Americans under the age of 70 each year. It’s the most common form of cancer both in the United States and elsewhere in the world. As you can imagine, there are many treatment options available for skin cancer.
Mohs micrographic surgery is the best option for patients diagnosed with many common forms of skin cancer and some types of melanoma. At the Laser Skin Care Center, our team of dermatology specialists offers Mohs surgery as it’s a highly effective treatment.
*Individual results may vary
About Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery is a medical procedure that uses both pathology (microscopic examination) and surgery to remove skin cancer. Mohs surgery gets carried out under local anesthesia, with the affected tissue frozen and then removed. The tissues are then immediately examined while patients wait for the results.
Mohs micrographic surgery is carried out here at the Laser Skin Care Center because it’s considered the “gold standard” for treatment. It’s cost-effective, guarantees precise results, and most patients only require a single outpatient visit.
When it comes to skin cancer treatment, Mohs surgery is also a good option for patients as it allows for most of the skin to get preserved. That’s especially useful in areas such as the face, ears, and genitals.
The process for Mohs micrographic surgery is as follows:
- Precise removal of the cancerous tissue. Our expert physicians at the Laser Skin Care Center use minimally-invasive techniques to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible. This is done using local anesthetic for maximum patient comfort.
- Microscopic examination of the removed tissue in the lab. Our in-house facilities ensure that patients don’t leave their appointments until we’ve confirmed all the cancerous tissue has been removed.
Surgical closure of the wound. Patients can rest assured knowing minimal reconstructive work needs to be performed.
Benefits of Mohs Micrographic Surgery
Unlike cosmetic skin procedures, skin cancer treatment is typically covered in full or in part by insurance companies due to the medical necessity of stopping cancer from spreading.
With Mohs micrographic surgery, less normal tissue is removed from the treatment site (typically 1-2mm margins rather than 4-5mm margins with standard techniques) while still excising 100% of the tissue edge. This helps ease repair of the excision site for a smaller scar, and reconstruction, if necessary, is performed immediately after removal. The repair is therefore less noticeable than standard skin cancer excisions.
Mohs micrographic surgery also results in a 99.9% cure rate compared to the standard rate of 94-95%. This makes Mohs surgery the best possible treatment plan for recurrent skin cancer lesions.
Am I a Candidate for Mohs Surgery?
Most patients that have skin cancer but are in otherwise good health make ideal candidates for Mohs surgery. There are some cases where you may not be a good candidate. Examples include:
- An intolerance to local anesthesia
- A phobia of surgery or experience extreme anxiety
- Very poor health
Any cancer diagnosis can be stressful and scary. With Mohs micrographic surgery, which works well for the most common forms of skin cancer, your likelihood of a quick, relatively easy treatment with a better outcome increases. If you’re interested in the peace of mind Mohs micrographic surgery brings, schedule a consultation today.
Take the Next Step
If you’d like to learn more about Mohs surgery, please fill out the form on this page or call (562) 997-1144. Laser Skin Care Center proudly serves the Long Beach, CA area and offers a variety of cosmetic dermatology services.
*Individual results may vary.
