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Mohs surgery is a highly effective, tissue-sparing procedure used to treat certain types of skin cancer. At Goodman Dermatology and Mohs Surgery in Sun City West and Sun City, Arizona, board-certified dermatologists Seth Goodman, DO, and Matt Goodman, MD, have the expertise and experience to remove cancerous tissue layer by layer while preserving as much healthy skin as possible. Dr Matt is an original founding member of the American Society for Mohs Surgery, created by dermatologists with extensive training in Mohs surgery who then continued to train physicians seeking to learn and perfect the technique. Dr. Seth holds an additional board certification in the technique of Mohs micrographic surgery. Both of the physicians have performed many thousands of curative surgeries using this procedure. Mohs surgery is especially beneficial for cancers in delicate or cosmetically sensitive areas. If you have skin concerns, call the friendly office staff to book an appointment or use the online scheduling feature today.
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What is Mohs surgery?
Mohs surgery is a highly specialized and precise technique used to treat certain types of skin cancer. Developed by Dr. Frederic Mohs in the 1930s, this procedure involves removing thin layers of cancer-containing skin one at a time, examining each layer under a microscope, and continuing the process until no cancerous cells remain.
Mohs surgery is most commonly used for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, the two most common types of skin cancer. It can be used for other special types of cancers as well.
What issues can Mohs surgery address?
Mohs surgery is particularly well-suited for treating skin cancers with the following conditions.
Located in sensitive or cosmetically important areas (e.g., face, ears, hands, or genitals)
Have a high risk of recurrence
Have large, aggressive, or poorly defined borders
Have been previously treated and returned
Your dermatologist may also use the procedure when preservation of healthy tissue around the eyes, nose, or lips is necessary.
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How does Mohs surgery work?
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia at the Goodman Dermatology and Mohs Surgery office. Dr. Matt or Dr. Seth removes the visible portion of the tumor, along with a very thin layer of surrounding skin. They promptly analyze the removed layer under a microscope to detect any remaining cancer cells. In this way your doctor acts as both surgeon and pathologist, having undergone a highly specialized and unique training for both specialties. This unique combination of specialties is only found in a small group of physicians worldwide.
If cancer is still present, they remove another thin layer from the precise area where cancer cells were detected. They carefully repeat the process, removing and examining layers one at a time, until no cancer cells remain.
Because each layer is thoroughly examined before moving on, Mohs surgery allows for the complete removal of the cancer while preserving the maximum amount of healthy tissue.
What are the benefits of Mohs surgery?
The benefits of Mohs surgery include:
High cure rate
Mohs surgery has a cure rate of 99% for certain types of skin cancer, even those that have recurred after previous treatments.
Tissue preservation
The procedure minimizes scarring and preserves healthy skin by only removing the affected tissue.
Immediate results
Microscopic examination of tissue is done during the surgery, so you get real-time confirmation of complete cancer removal.
Outpatient procedure
Mohs surgery is typically performed in a single visit with local anesthesia, offering minimal downtime and a quick recovery.
Overall, Mohs surgery is a gold-standard treatment that balances cancer removal with aesthetic and functional preservation.
After the Mohs procedure is complete, the providers then design and carry out a repair of the skin tissue to obtain the most cosmetically pleasing results possible. In rare cases, outside specialties become involved, such as facial plastic surgeons or oculoplastic surgeons.
Learn more by calling the Goodman Dermatology and Mohs Surgery office today or booking an appointment online.