Mohs Surgery

Named after the surgeon who pioneered the procedure in the 1930’s, Mohs Surgery is a specialized procedure used to treat skin cancers by removing the cancer layer by layer.

The purpose of Mohs Surgery is to remove the least amount of tissue with the highest possible cure rate. It is performed in an outpatient clinic under local anesthesia.

Many skin cancers are often described as having “roots” that extend beyond the apparent borders of the tumor. By using the Mohs Surgery technique, the borders or margins of the tumor are checked to remove these “roots”. This allows for a higher cure rate than other techniques. Mohs Surgery has a cure rate that approaches 99% for primary (never treated) basal cell carcinomas and 95% for recurrent tumors.

Why Mohs Surgery?

Many skin cancers are often described as having “roots” that extend beyond the apparent borders of the tumor. By using the Mohs Surgery technique, the borders or margins of the tumor are checked to remove these “roots”. This allows for a higher cure rate than other techniques. Mohs Surgery has a cure rate that approaches 99% for primary (never treated) basal cell carcinomas and 95% for recurrent tumors.