What to Expect During Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer
What to Expect During Mohs Surgery for Skin Cancer
When most people think of cancer surgery, they picture a major procedure under general anesthesia that requires a hospital stay. Mohs surgery is different. This same-day procedure is performed while the patient is awake using local anesthetic and offers the highest cure rate for skin cancer.
How Mohs Surgery Works
Mohs surgery removes skin cancer while keeping as much healthy skin as possible. First, the obvious skin cancer is removed. Then, the skin is checked in a lab using a microscope to make sure all cancer cells have been removed. If more cancer cells are found, additional skin is removed. This process continues until the cancer is fully cleared.
While it can take time, most patients require one to two rounds of removal鈥攌nown as stages. Patients can expect a two- to six-hour procedure.
Precise Removal, Minimal Scarring
Once the cancer cells are removed, the surgeon closes the wound and repairs the remaining skin with the goal of preserving as much healthy skin as possible. Depending on size and location, the repair can take up to 90 minutes.
U of U Health patients can expect the smallest amount of scarring possible. Fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons perform more facial skin reconstructive surgeries than any other medical specialty.
What makes Mohs surgery unique is that the same physician removes the cancer, analyzes the tissue, and completes the reconstruction. Mohs surgeons are dermatologists with advanced training in both dermatopathology and facial reconstructive surgery.
Healing after Mohs surgery typically involves wound care at home. Surgeons provide detailed instructions, but most patients only need soap, water, and a petroleum ointment to care for their stitches.
When Additional Treatment Is Needed
Most skin cancers treated with Mohs surgery are basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas that typically don't require further treatment. Some types of melanomas can be treated with Mohs surgery if the surgeon has specialized training and equipment. In certain cases, additional therapies such as radiation, chemotherapy, or collaboration with other specialists like radiation oncology or head and neck surgery may be needed.
At the University of Utah, our fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons work closely with a network of physicians who can provide the additional care a patient may need.
