Mohs Surgery Information

What is Skin Cancer?

Skin Cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting an estimated one million Americans each year.  There are many types of skin cancer.  The most common types are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.  Similar to the tip of an iceberg, the cancer visible on the skin’s surface may represent a much larger tumor underneath the skin.

What is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs surgery, named after Frederick Mohs, is the most effective technique available for treating skin cancers.  Performed in an outpatient setting, Mohs surgery entirely removes the affected area while sparing the surrounding healthy skin.

When is Mohs Surgery appropriate?

Mohs surgery is commonly used to remove large skin cancers, cancers in hard to reach areas, recurrent skin cancers, and those occurring in areas where preservation of the skin is essential such as the face and neck.  This procedure can be performed on all three types of skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.

What can I expect?

A specially trained Mohs surgeon, Dr. Eduardo Weiss, will begin the procedure by numbing the affected area with local anesthesia. The cancerous growth is removed in thin layers, which takes about five to ten minutes.

The Mohs surgeon then examines the layers under the microscope, a procedure which takes 30-45 minutes.  Smaller thinner layers are removed until one of the layers is found to be cancer free. Mohs surgery is complete in just one office visit and has a nearly 100 percent cure rate.  Most patients experience little or no discomfort during or after surgery.
Following the procedure, you and Dr. Weiss will decide the next appropriate step whether it be reconstructive surgery or allowing the wound to heal naturally.

What are my reconstructive surgery options?

Mohs surgery removes only the cancerous cells.  However, if the cancer is large you may want to consider reconstructive surgery.  Dr. Weiss will discuss available options prior to your surgery.

In order to speed your healing time, please consider these recommendations:
Avoid medications that prolong bleeding times unless they are being used for their blood thinning properties. If you can use Tylenol for a headache instead of aspirin, please do so. If your medical doctor has advised an aspirin a day for its ability to prevent clots because you have a risk of coronary disease or stroke, please continue to take it. We can work around the bleeding and the benefits outweigh the nuisance of a little extra bleeding. Medications commonly used for blood thinning properties include Aspirin, Coumadin (warfarin), Ticlid (ticlopidine), Plavix (clopidorel), and Persantine (dipyridamole).

Other medications that thin the blood that you may know about include:

• Ibuprofen; Motrin, Advil, Nuprin
• Naproxen; Naprosyn, Aleve
• Aspirin; Ecotrin, Ascriptin, Fiorinal , Cafergot

If you have valve disease and generally require antibiotics before surgery, please let us know. If you have a standing prescription, as most people do, we will advise you on whether you need to take a prophylaxis for the procedure planned.

The Mohs procedure is done in stages therefore plan on being at our office for roughly 4 hours from your appointment time. You may bring lunch if you wish. The providers at Florida Skin Center will see you for your follow up in 7-10 days after your surgery for suture removal.