Mohs surgery involves an area of the body being numbed with a local anesthetic and then removing the patient’s cancer layer by layer. The dermatologist will examine each specimen on a slide to ensure that all the cancer has been removed and that no extra healthy skin is removed. This leaves the least amount of scarring, while removing all of the skin cancer in one appointment. This procedure is complex and time-consuming, but provides better results than any other surgical procedure for skin cancer. After the surgery is completed, patients may then undergo reconstructive surgery, depending on the size of the skin cancer removed from the skin. If the area undergoing treatment is especially small, stitches will be used to close up the surgical area and the spot should heal well on its own. Before your procedure, your provider will discuss with you the possibilities of reconstructive surgery, as well as how to care for the surgical area after the procedure has been done. We may also recommend regular annual checks to ensure that the skin cancer does not come back or redevelop in another area of the body
