Mohs surgeons are dermatologists who have completed extensive training in Mohs surgery. During Mohs surgery, most patients remain awake and alert. This means Mohs can safely be performed in a medical office or surgical suite.

Why do you need to see them?

Mohs surgery can be a useful tool for treating skin cancers that have a high risk of recurrence or that have already recurred after previous treatment. This type of surgery can also be beneficial for cancers located in sensitive areas where you want to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible, such as around the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hands, feet, and genitals.

Mohs surgery is best in these situations:

• Your skin cancer is likely to come back or has already returned since your last treatment.
• It’s located in a part of your body where it’s important to keep as much healthy tissue as possible.
• It’s especially big or grows fast.
• It has uneven edges.

What do they do?

Mohs surgery is a procedure used to treat skin cancer. This surgery involves cutting away thin layers of skin, each no thicker than a piece of paper. Each thin layer is looked at closely for signs of cancer. The process keeps going until there are no signs of cancer.