Mohs Surgery in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Mohs surgery is a precise skin cancer technique with the highest cure rate among skin cancer treatments. The skilled surgeons at HK Dermatology in San Juan Capistrano, CA use Mohs surgery to remove all of the cancer while sparing as much healthy skin as possible, making it ideal for skin cancers on the face and other delicate areas.
Request an AppointmentWhat Types of Skin Cancer Does Mohs Surgery Treat?
Mohs surgery has a high cure rate for most types of skin cancer and successfully treats the two most common forms: basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Our team may recommend Mohs surgery for BCC and SCC that are:
- Aggressive or large
- Recurrent after previous treatment
- Located in areas with very little tissue, such as the nose, ears, eyelids, and lips
- On cosmetically sensitive areas such as the face, hands, and feet
- Poorly defined at the borders
In some cases, Mohs surgery can also be used to treat certain early melanomas or rarer types of skin cancer, such as Merkel cell carcinoma.
Benefits of Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery is unparalleled for precise skin cancer removal, offering cure rates of up to 99 percent for many skin cancers. Its tissue-sparing technique also offers:
- Minimal scarring and disfigurement
- Preservation of the greatest amount of healthy skin
- The lowest chance of cancer regrowth
- Same-day results, with cancer removal confirmed before you leave
- Outpatient treatment under local anesthesia, so there is no hospital stay
Because Mohs is performed with safe local anesthesia, you stay awake and comfortable, and the cost of the procedure is reduced.
What to Expect on the Day of Surgery
On the day of your procedure, the area around the skin cancer is numbed with local anesthesia. Your surgeon removes the visible tumor along with a thin layer of surrounding tissue. While you wait comfortably, the tissue is processed and examined under a microscope. If cancer cells remain at any edge, your surgeon removes another thin layer only from that exact spot. This process repeats until no cancer remains. Because the time needed depends on how many layers are required, plan to spend several hours at our office.
Once the cancer is fully removed, your surgeon will close the wound, often with stitches, in a way that promotes the best cosmetic result. You will receive detailed aftercare instructions, and most patients return to light activities within a day or two.
Is Mohs Surgery Right for You?
The best way to find out whether Mohs surgery is right for you is to schedule a consultation. Your doctor will carefully examine your skin cancer and recommend the best treatment. For some patients, non-surgical superficial radiation therapy may be an alternative. If a scar remains after healing, our scar removal treatments and fractional laser resurfacing can help improve its appearance.
Learn more about skin cancer treatment and precancerous actinic keratosis, see patient outcomes on our basal cell treatment and squamous cell treatment pages, review our insurance information, and visit our new patient page.
What Is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery is a highly effective skin cancer treatment that progressively removes very thin layers of cancerous skin. Your doctor removes one fine layer at a time and examines it under a microscope, checking all edges of the tissue for cancer cells. This approach eliminates the need to estimate how deeply the cancer is rooted. Once no cancer cells remain, your doctor stops, preserving as much healthy tissue as possible while completely removing the cancer.
Mohs Surgery FAQs
What is the cure rate for Mohs surgery?
Mohs surgery offers cure rates of up to 99 percent for many basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, the highest of any skin cancer treatment.
Is Mohs surgery painful?
Mohs surgery is performed under local anesthesia, so you stay awake and comfortable. Most patients feel only a pinch from the numbing injection.
How long does Mohs surgery take?
It depends on how many layers are needed. Plan to spend several hours at the office on the day of surgery.
Will I have a scar after Mohs surgery?
Mohs surgery preserves as much healthy tissue as possible, which helps minimize scarring. Most scars fade significantly over time.
What skin cancers can Mohs surgery treat?
Mohs is most often used for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas and may be used for some early melanomas and rarer skin cancers.
Is there an alternative to Mohs surgery?
Yes. Superficial radiation therapy is a non-surgical option for certain non-melanoma skin cancers.
Is Mohs surgery covered by insurance?
Mohs surgery for skin cancer is medically necessary and is typically covered by insurance, including Medicare.
Find Out If Mohs Surgery Is Right for You
Call HK Dermatology at (949) 248-1632 or request an appointment online for a Mohs surgery consultation in San Juan Capistrano, CA .
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