Why Mohs Surgery Is Recommended Even When Your Skin Cancer Appears Gone
If you’ve recently had a biopsy for a spot on your skin and your doctor recommends Mohs surgery, you might wonder why it’s necessary. After all, the biopsy might have removed what you can see—so isn’t the skin cancer already gone? Let’s dive into why Mohs surgery is often the best option, particularly for skin cancers on your face or other sensitive areas.
What Is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs micrographic surgery is a specialized procedure designed to remove skin cancer while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. It’s often recommended for:
• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in high-risk areas.
• Skin cancers that have more aggressive growth.
• Recurrent skin cancers.
This meticulous process involves removing the cancer layer by layer, examining each layer under a microscope to ensure no cancer cells remain. It’s considered the gold standard in skin cancer treatment, especially for high-risk skin cancers.
Why Is Mohs Surgery Recommended?
Microscopic Spread of Skin Cancer
While a biopsy can remove a portion of a visible lesion, it may not remove all of the cancer. Skin cancers like BCC and SCC often extend below the surface or spread out in irregular, microscopic patterns. What looks like a small, contained lesion on the outside can have roots or “finger-like” extensions that are invisible to the naked eye.
Clear Margins Are Crucial
The goal of skin cancer treatment is to achieve "clear margins," meaning no cancer cells are left at the edges of the removed tissue. With Mohs surgery, the surgeon examines 100% of the margin during the procedure, ensuring complete removal of cancer while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. This precision is particularly important for skin cancer on the face, where preserving appearance and function is key.
Prevention of Recurrence
Incomplete removal of skin cancer can lead to recurrence. Recurrent cancers are often more aggressive and harder to treat. Mohs surgery minimizes this risk by confirming the complete removal of cancer during the initial treatment, providing a high skin cancer cure rate.
Why Is Mohs Important for Facial Skin Cancers?
The face is not only cosmetically sensitive but also structurally complex, containing vital features like the eyes, nose, lips, and ears. Mohs surgery is ideal for these areas because it:
• Preserves as much healthy tissue as possible, reducing scarring.
• Ensures complete removal, lowering the risk of recurrence in these delicate areas.
• Provides precise results, allowing for better functional and cosmetic outcomes.
Patients seeking facial skin cancer treatment benefit greatly from the meticulous nature of Mohs surgery, as it minimizes damage to healthy skin while achieving effective results.
Who Performs Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery should be performed by dermatologists who have undergone additional fellowship training in this specialized procedure. These surgeons are often board-certified Mohs Surgeons. Additionally, Mohs surgeons who have performed hundreds of cases can become a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS), a prestigious organization dedicated to advancing skin cancer treatment. At Pure Dermatology, Dr. Straight is double board-certified in Dermatology and Mohs Surgery, and an ACMS fellow, ensuring the highest standards of expertise and care.
Trusting the Process
It’s natural to feel hesitant about undergoing surgery when the visible lesion appears to be gone. However, Mohs surgery is a gold standard for treating skin cancers in sensitive areas because it combines high cure rates with tissue preservation. The microscopic precision ensures that your skin cancer is treated thoroughly and effectively, giving you peace of mind and the best possible outcome.
If you’re still uncertain, talk to your dermatologist or Mohs surgeon. They can explain the findings from your biopsy, discuss the risks of leaving microscopic cancer behind, and help you feel confident in your treatment plan.
