When it comes to treating non-melanoma skin cancers, Mohs surgery is considered the gold standard. The procedure is preferred because it is able to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible. But how does Mohs surgery work to treat skin cancer.
What is Mohs surgery?
Mohs micrographic surgery, commonly called Mohs surgery, is considered one of the most effective treatments for high-risk non-melanoma skin cancers, namely basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
The procedure is done in stages, and after each stage the doctor waits for the lab results before proceeding. The lab work is done right there on site, so you can get the results immediately.
How it works to treat skin cancer
The lesions to be treated are first marked, and then injected with local anesthesia. The surgeon will then use a scalpel to remove a layer of tissue from the cancerous lesion. The tissue is color coded with ink, so that the surgeon can accurately identify where it was taken from.
The tissue that is removed is analyzed under a microscope on-site, in order to determine if there are any cancer cells. If there are, the doctor can identify the area based on the color code, and remove another layer of tissue from that area. This process is continued until no more cancer cells show up on the tissue sample that has been excised.
Depending on the size of the wound it may be stitched, or reconstructed using a skin graft or skin flap. Because of the number of steps involved, Mohs surgery can take several hours.
Clients in Chicago IL can contact Skin Care Center, to find out more about Mohs Surgery for skin cancer.
Call 773-296-3636today to schedule a consultation with our Chicago office or call 847-901-0252 for our Glenview location, or 847-234-6121 for the Lake Forest office.