Mohs Surgery

How successful is the treatment of skin cancer?
What is Mohs Micrographic Surgery?
How do I prepare for the day of surgery?
What happens the day of surgery?
What can I expect after the surgery is completed?
Will I develop more skin cancers?
Mohs Surgery Photographs

Initial treatment of skin cancers has a success rate of 90%. Methods commonly employed to treat skin cancer include: excision (surgical removal and stitching), curettage and electrodesiccation (scraping and burning with an electric needle), cryosurgery (freezing), and radiation therapy (“deep” X-ray). And there aren’t many better than a London dermatology clinic to take these tests and get treatment. Patients may have had one or more of these methods of treatment before coming for Mohs Micrographic Surgery.

The success rate in treating a recurrent skin cancer (ie. one that persists after conventional treatment) can be as low as 50%. The cure rate for Mohs Micrographic Surgery, even in treating recurrent lesions, is about 98%.

In case you have any skin injuries use this hypertrophic scar Tape to get rid of the wounds.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery (discussed in detail below) is very time consuming, requires a highly-trained team of medical personnel, and is available at relatively few locations in the country. Mohs Micrographic Surgery is reserved for recurrent skin cancers or for primary skin cancers that are difficult to treat usually including the central face.
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In the early 1940′s, Dr. Frederick Mohs, Professor of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin, developed a form of treatment for skin cancers he called chemosurgery. The word “chemosurgery” is derived from the words “chemical” and “surgery.”

The procedure has been refined and improved upon so that most cases are done using fresh tissue omitting the chemical paste Dr. Mohs used. The procedure is now called Mohs Micrographic Surgery, “micro” because the procedure utilizes microscopes and “graphic” because the surgeon makes a map of the surgical site and the microscopic findings.

Our Mohs surgeons have sub-specialty surgical training in the technique and are Fellows of the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology. Our team will help answer your questions, respond to your anxieties, assist in surgery, and instruct you in dressings and wound care after the surgery is performed. A technician, whom you may not even meet, performs the essential task of preparing the tissue slides which are examined under a microscope by the physician.

The surgery is performed as follows: the skin is treated with a local anesthetic so there is no pain; the tumor is scraped using a semi-sharp instrument called a curette; a thin piece of tissue is then removed surgically around the scraped skin and divided into pieces that will fit on a microscope slide; the edges are marked with colored dyes; a map or diagram of the tissue removed is made; and the tissue is frozen by the technician. A pressure dressing is then applied and the patient is asked to wait while the slides are being processed. The Mohs surgeon will then examine the slides under the microscope and be able to tell if any tumor is still present. If cancer cells remain, the Mohs surgeon is able to precisely locate them based upon his map. Another layer of tissue is then removed and the procedure is repeated until the Mohs surgeon is satisfied that the entire base and sides of the wound have no cancer cells remaining. This process ensures the complete removal of the cancer while preserving as much normal surrounding skin as possible. The removal, processing and interpretation of each layer of tissue takes approximately 1 hour. Only 15-30 minutes is spent in the actual surgical procedure, the remaining time being required for slide preparation and interpretation. It usually takes removal of 1-3 layers of tissue (stages) to complete the surgery. Mohs micrographic surgery is generally finished in one day. Sometimes a tumor may rarely be extensive enough to necessitate continuing surgery a second day.

At the end of Mohs Micrographic Surgery, you will be left with a surgical wound. This wound will be dealt with in one of several ways. The possibilities explained below include:

1. healing by spontaneous granulation
2. closing the wound or part of the wound with stitches
3. using a skin graft
4. using a skin flap

Healing by spontaneous granulation involves letting the wound heal by itself. This offers a good chance to observe the wound as it heals after removal of a difficult tumor. Experience has taught us that there are certain areas of the body where nature will heal a wound as nicely as any further surgical procedure. There are also times when a wound will be left to heal knowing that if the resultant scar is unacceptable and some form of reconstruction can be performed at a later date. In this way a less complex reconstruction may be possible as any new scar shrinks up to 50% in a year.

Closing the wound with stitches is often performed. This involves some adjustment of the wound and sewing the skin edges together. This procedure speeds healing and can offer excellent cosmetic results. For example, the scar can be nearly hidden in a wrinkle line.

Skin flaps involve movement of adjacent, healthy tissue to cover a Mohs defect. They are often chosen for complex cases because of the excellent cosmetic match of nearby skin.

Skin grafts involve covering a surgery site with skin from another area of the body. There are two types of skin grafts. The first is called a “split thickness graft.” This is a thin shave of skin, usually taken from the thigh or scalp, which is used to cover a very large surgical wound. This can either be a permanent coverage or temporary coverage before another cosmetic procedure is done at a later date. The second graft type is the “full thickness graft.” This graft provides a thicker layer of skin to achieve better cosmetic results. In this instance, skin is usually removed from behind or in front of the ear (the donor site) and stitched to cover the wound. The donor site is then sutured together to provide a good cosmetic result.

If your Mohs Micrographic Surgery is extensive or a functional impairment results, we may recommend you visit one of several consultant physicians. If you have been sent to us by another physician skilled in skin closures (for example, a plastic surgeon), he/she will take care of you after your cancer has been removed.

In summary, by microscopically pinpointing areas involved with cancer and selectively removing these tissues, the Mohs surgeon can successfully remove your skin cancer with the best cure rate and the least loss of normal tissue. A smaller wound also offers you the likelihood of a better final cosmetic result. Although every effort will be made to minimize the scar, you will be left with a scar of some kind. Mohs micrographic surgery is one of the few “no brainers” in medicine.
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The best preparation for Mohs Micrographic Surgery is a good night’s rest followed by breakfast. In most cases, the surgery will be completed on an outpatient basis. Because you can expect to be here for most of the day, it is wise to bring a book or magazine to read. Also, because the day may prove to be quite tiring, it is advisable to have someone accompany you on the day of surgery to provide companionship and transportation home.

You or your referring physician may request a pre-operative visit to evaluate the need for Mohs Micrographic Surgery and meet your surgeon. At this visit, the technique will be discussed in detail and your questions answered. If you are coming a great distance and/or are being referred by a physician familiar with this technique, you may be referred directly for Mohs Micrographic Surgery without a pre-operative visit. If this is the case and you have never been a patient in our office before, you should plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled appointment in order to complete some initial patient forms.

The cost of Mohs Micrographic Surgery is borne by most insurance carriers. Please be prepared to give insurance information to our billing personnel and bring with you any forms which may need processing. We can counsel you concerning your insurance coverage at the time of surgery. Some insurance companies require authorization prior to surgery.
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Upon your arrival, you should check in at the registration window. When the surgical suite becomes available, you will be escorted by our surgical nurse to the Mohs surgical suites. If you have not had a consultation visit, our staff or the doctor will go through the procedure with you and answer any questions you may have. After this, the Mohs stages will be taken.

After the first stage, a pressure dressing will be placed over your surgical wound and you will be free to leave the surgical suite. It takes some time for the slides to be prepared and studied. During this time, you may wait in the waiting room, read a book or magazine, or take a short walk.

Most Mohs surgery cases are completed in 1-3 stages. Each stage involves the removal and microscopic examination of your skin for cancer. Therefore, the majority of cases are finished during one day. Once we are sure that we have totally removed your skin cancer, we will discuss our recommendations for dealing with your surgical wound with you.
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Most people are concerned about pain. We make every effort to minimize any pain associated with the procedure. You may experience remarkably little discomfort after your surgery. You will be provided with Vicodin or Darvocet, codeine-like compounds with acetaminophen for the first few days upon request. If you do not want narcotics, combining acetaminophen and ibuprofen often works well.

A small number of patients will experience some bleeding post-operatively. This bleeding can usually be controlled by the use of pressure. You should take a gauze pad and/or ice pack and apply constant pressure over the bleeding point for 15 minutes; do not lift up or relieve the pressure at all during that period of time. If bleeding persists after continued pressure for 15 minutes, repeat the pressure for another 15 minutes. If this fails, call the doctor or visit a local Emergency Room.

Some minor complications may occur after Mohs surgery. Swelling and bruising are very common following Mohs surgery, particularly when it is performed around or above the eyes. This usually subsides within 4-5 days after surgery and may be decreased by the user of an ice pack and elevation in the first 48 hours. A small red area may develop surrounding your wound. This is normal and does not necessarily indicate infection. However, if this redness does not subside in days or the wound begins to drain pus, or becomes painful you should notify us immediately. Itching and redness around the wound, especially in areas where adhesive tape has been applied, are not uncommon. When this occurs, ask your druggist for a non-allergenic tape and use petroleum ointment only. At times, the area surrounding your operative site will be numb to the touch. This area of anesthesia (numbness) may persist for several months or longer. In some instances, it may be permanent. If this occurs, please discuss it with your doctor at your follow-up visit.

Although every effort will be made to offer the best possible cosmetic result, you will be left with a scar. The scar can be minimized by the proper care of your wound. Some scars and flap surgery often require a second minor procedure in 6-8 weeks for optimal results. We will discuss wound care in detail with you and give you a Wound Care Informational Sheet which will outline how to take care of whatever type of wound you have.
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After having one skin cancer, statistics say that you have a 50% chance of developing a second. There are precautions that can be taken to prevent further skin cancers. You should use a sunscreen (suntan lotion), applying it at least 30 minutes before exposure to sunlight. We would recommend that you use a SPF #30 or higher sunscreen. Despite manufacturer’s claims, we recommend that you re-apply sunscreen after swimming. A wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, and other protective clothing are also appropriate and more effective than sunscreen alone. Avoidance of excessive sunshine is always recommended.

You should have your skin checked very closely by your referring dermatologist or dermatology PA at 6-month intervals. This is not only to check the surgical site as it is healing, but to check for the development of additional skin cancers. Some patients who come great distances will be followed post operatively by their referring physician. We recommend 6-month follow-up visits for 2 years, then yearly by your referring doctor. Of course, any areas of your skin that change, fail to heal, or just concern you should be brought to the attention of your referring physician or PA immediately.

John Geisse, MD
Serena Mraz, MD
Karl Beutner, MD PhD
Jennifer Fu, MD
Erica Aronson, MD
John Alexander, PA-C
Kyle Goleno, PA-C
Margaret Nonato, PA-C
Debra Stock, PA-C
Meghan Kennedy, PA-C

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