Mohs Surgery Specialist

What is Mohs surgery?

Mohs surgery is an outpatient procedure that treats certain types of skin cancer. 

During Mohs surgery, your Cumberland Dermatology provider uses a powerful microscope and special tools to carefully remove cancerous layers of skin. By removing only cancerous areas of skin, it’s possible to preserve the surrounding tissue. That allows for quicker recovery times, reduced risk of infection, and improved treatment outcomes.

Who is a candidate for Mohs surgery?

You might be a candidate for Mohs surgery if you have a type of skin cancer that:

• Is likely to recur
• Is located on your face, hands, or feet
• Has borders that are hard to define
• Is large or aggressive

After a review of your medical records, a skin exam, and a discussion of your symptoms, the team can develop a treatment plan that aligns with your needs.

How do I prepare for Mohs surgery?

To ensure Mohs surgery goes as smoothly as possible, it’s important to prepare in advance. Let your provider know if you take any prescription medications or supplements during your initial consultation. Certain drugs can increase your risk of bleeding, so your provider might ask you to stop taking them before the procedure.

In addition, make sure to take the entire day off of work. Mohs surgery usually only takes a few hours, but it may take longer. On the day of your procedure, wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothes.

What happens during Mohs surgery?

The team at Cumberland Dermatology performs Mohs surgery during an outpatient procedure.

At the beginning of your appointment, you sit or lie down on an operating table. Then, your provider cleans the cancerous area of the skin and outlines it with a marker. Next, they administer a local anesthetic.

Once the anesthesia sets in, your Cumberland Dermatology provider uses a scalpel to carefully remove a thin layer of cancerous skin. They look at your skin under a powerful microscope. If your provider sees any cancerous cells, they continue with the Mohs surgery, carefully removing one layer of skin at a time.

Your provider repeats these steps multiple times until all of the cancerous cells have been removed. Afterward, your Cumberland Dermatology provider closes the wound, bandages it, and provides care instructions.

What is recovery like after Mohs surgery?

After Mohs surgery, your Cumberland Dermatology provider explains how to care for the surgical site. Make sure to take any medication as prescribed and keep the area clean and dry. About a week after surgery, you visit the office for a follow-up. During that visit, your provider examines the surgical site to ensure it’s healing properly.

To see if you’re a candidate for Mohs surgery, make an appointment at Cumberland Dermatology by calling the nearest office or booking online today.