Surgical Dermatology

Mohs surgery is a highly specialized technique used to treat certain types of skin cancer, most commonly basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It involves removing thin layers of skin one at a time and examining each layer under a microscope until no cancer cells remain. This method ensures complete cancer removal while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.

Mohs surgery is often the best treatment when skin cancer is located on sensitive or cosmetically important areas like the face, ears, neck, and hands, or when the cancer is large, aggressive, or has returned after previous treatment. Mohs surgery has the highest cure rate of any skin cancer treatment.

Since Mohs surgery is performed under local anesthesia, you may eat, drink and take your medications as you normally would. Please avoid wearing make-up, perfume, nail polish, and jewelry if these are near the location of your surgery. Alcohol can promote bleeding, so we recommend avoiding alcohol the day before and the day after your surgery. Because smoking can impair wound healing by decreasing the blood supply at your surgery site, we recommend cutting down or quitting prior to surgery and during the healing process.  It is helpful to arrange for someone to drive you on the day of surgery. This person may stay with you during the waiting period to keep you company between layers.

On the day of surgery, most of your time will be spent waiting in our comfortable Mohs surgery lounge. We recommend wearing something comfortable with layers as the surgery suite may be chilly. We also suggest that you bring something to occupy your time as well as lunch or snacks as you will likely be in the office for multiple hours. We do have a refrigerator available if needed.  

You will go home with a pressure bandage on the surgery site which will remain in place for 24 hours. We recommend avoiding any strenuous activity for at least 72 hours following surgery, but sometimes longer. We will discuss any specific wound care instructions or limitations on the day of your surgery. You can expect bruising and swelling at or around the surgery site which usually resolves within 1-2 weeks. Post-surgery pain is often controlled with ice and over the counter pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Depending on the type of repair performed, you may need to come back in the week or two after surgery to have stitches removed and the wound checked. All forms of surgery result in a permanent, visible scar. Scarring is minimized because the Mohs technique removes as little tissue as possible. The size of the scar is difficult to predict prior to surgery. We will discuss ways to minimize the appearance of your scar at your surgery appointment and follow up appointments.