Your High Desert physician may determine that Mohs surgery is the best procedure based on the location and type of skin cancer. Mohs surgery is often recommended on areas of the face where it would be difficult or disfiguring to take extra skin. Some aggressive forms of skin cancer or very large tumors may require Mohs surgery.
Skin cells examined while you wait
Mohs surgery is a special technique developed by Dr. Frederic Mohs. It involves taking only the tumor and a tiny margin of normal-looking skin. The amount of skin removed is called a level. The skin is processed and examined while you wait and all edges of the level are examined. If cancer cells remain, the surgeon goes back only to the edge where the tumor is spreading and takes a tiny bit more (level 2). This tissue is then processed and examined by your doctor while you wait. This process is repeated until the tumor is completely eradicated. The surgeon then closes the wound in the most cosmetically appealing fashion possible.
Advantages and disadvantages of Mohs surgery
The advantages of Mohs surgery are that it provides the highest cure rate, the smallest final defect and excellent cosmetic results. The disadvantages are that it’s a time consuming procedure and is more costly than simple excision.
If it’s determined that Mohs micrographic surgery is the best treatment for your cancer, you will be referred to one of the best Mohs surgeons in the Albuquerque area. The caring staff at High Desert Dermatology will answer all of your questions and assist you in setting up your appointment.