Mohs Surgery in Miami, FL
Mohs surgery effectively removes skin cancers without harming surrounding healthy tissue. At Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute, Jill Waibel, MD, FAAD, treats people living in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Kendall, FL, as well as the surrounding communities, dealing with skin cancer.
What is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery is a surgical procedure to remove skin cancer under local anesthesia. While it is considered minor surgery, it is a technologically advanced procedure that removes individual layers of skin so that they can be examined under a microscope to detect cancer. This technique is repeated continuously until no cancer is found in the skin tissue. Mohs is very precise and provides a very high cure rate without removing normal, healthy skin.
Benefits of Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery for skin cancer is often the preferred procedure to remove skin cancer as it offers the following benefits:
- Removes cancer without harming healthy tissue
- Reduced chance of recurrence
- Performed on an outpatient basis without general anesthesia
- High cure rate
How is Mohs Reconstruction Performed?
Mohs surgery is an outpatient procedure in which thin layers of skin containing cancer are removed layer by layer. The most visible outer layers are the initial ones removed and continues into the deeper layers until no skin cancer is found. As each layer is removed, it is immediately viewed under a microscope to screen for cancer. Depending on the depth of the cancer, there may be some scarring from the procedure; however, the goal is to remove the cancer without harming healthy tissue if possible. Mohs is typically performed under local anesthesia and may take several hours as it takes time to examine each layer of skin tissue.
What Should I Expect from Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery is considered surgery so there is some recovery involved. The area treated typically has stitches, which stay in for up to two weeks depending on the location and depth of the procedure. It is necessary to plan a few days away from work and to have help at home in order to rest and allow healing. Once complete, you may return to your normal activities. While the cure rate for skin cancer following Mohs is extremely high, it is essential that you have annual full body skin exams to ensure there is no reoccurrence on another part of the body.
Am I a Good Candidate for Mohs Surgery?
If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer, you may be a good candidate for Mohs surgery. Our dermatologists consider multiple factors to determine whether Mohs surgery is right for your skin cancer treatment. We recommend you schedule a consultation to determine if this is the most effective treatment option.
Mohs surgery is an advanced treatment procedure for skin cancer that offers the highest cure rate and smallest scars. The board-certified dermatologists at Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute perform Mohs surgery on people living in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Kendall, FL, and other nearby areas as well.
