Mohs: All Your Questions Answered

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the time they’re 70. It’s the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US. In fact, each year more skin cancers are diagnosed than all the other types of cancer combined.  

At HK Dermatology in San Juan Capistrano, California, Dr. Jeffrey Klein and his team are here to cover all of your dermatological needs. That’s why we’ve compiled this helpful guide on why Mohs surgery is your most effective option when it comes to treating nonmelanoma skin cancers.

The advantages of Mohs surgery

The first advantage of Mohs surgery is that it’s done on an outpatient basis. Our doctors remove your non melanoma skin cancer one layer at a time, and then examine each layer under a microscope in an adjoining lab until we find a layer that doesn’t contain cancerous cells. You’ll have to wait as we examine each layer, so the entire procedure can take a few hours to a whole day, but it’s well worth the wait. 

With Mohs surgery, you're left with a clean bill of health as soon as you leave the procedure, since we test each layer of your skin for signs of cancer as we remove it. Unlike with other treatment options, you don’t have to wait for your tissue to be sent to a lab to examine whether it’s cancerous or not. 

The second advantage of Mohs surgery is that it preserves your surrounding healthy tissue. Only the area where you have the melanoma is affected. The scar that you’re left with is very minimal, which is ideal for melanomas on highly visible areas. 

Are you a good candidate for the Mohs procedure?

If you have small or large basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer, or squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common skin cancer, then the Mohs procedure is perfect for you. It’s also great for other less common non melanoma skin cancers such as keratoacanthoma, atypical fibroxanthoma, and those who have recurrent Basal and Squamous skin cancers.  

Both carcinomas have high success rates for treatment, with a 99% cure rate for cancers that are newly diagnosed, and a 94% cure rate for skin cancer that’s recurring.

Mohs surgery works well for skin cancer on visible places, like the face, since Mohs minimizes the size of the surgical excision to help reduce or virtually eliminate surgical scarring. To learn more about your treatment options with Mohs, call HK Dermatology at 949-248-1632 or book your appointment online.