MOHS Micrographic Surgery IN Burbank, CA
Benefits
Mohs is a method of excising skin cancers such as Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinomas under local anesthesia. Mohs is the single most effective technique used to remove skin cancers. It accomplishes the nifty trick of sparing the greatest amount of healthy tissue while also most completely expunging cancer cells; cure rates for BCC and SCC are an unparalleled 98% or higher with Mohs, significantly better than the rates for standard excision or any other accepted method.
Treatment
Mohs surgery combines the surgical removal of the tumor with an immediate microscopic examination of the tumor and its underlying diseased tissue. Where further cancer is noted, additional layers are taken until a level free of tumor is reached. This allows the Mohs surgeon to remove all of the cancer cells while sparing as much normal tissue as possible. The procedure entails removing one thin layer of tissue at a time; as each layer is removed, its margins are studied under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells. If the margins are cancer-free, the surgery is ended. If not, more tissue is removed from the margin where the cancer cells were found, and the procedure is repeated until all the margins of the final tissue sample examined are clear of cancer.
The technique combines a high cure rate, has the lowest change of regrowth, minimizes the potential for scarring or disfigurement and is the most exact and precise means of removal.
Recovery
The treatment site may feel swollen, lumpy, and/or show redness. Recovery can take between several days to several weeks based on the size, complexity, and location of the wound.