What You Need to Know about the Mohs Procedure - Mohs surgery has become the standard of care for treating many types of skin cancer because of its high cure rate. The treatment is especially helpful for difficult or recurrent skin cancers that have been treated unsuccessfully with other methods. It begins by taking the smallest amount of tumor affected skin that is visible and ends by confirming the removal using a microscope; thus ensuring the highest cure possible and minimizing scars by removing only tumor-affected skin.

Surgery requires the full cooperation of the patient to acquire the best results. It is important for patients to arrive on the day of surgery understanding that the surgery involves a lot of waiting as the tissue is being processed. This is often the most difficult part of the day. In preparation, a patient should arrive well rested. He or she should refrain from drinking alcohol 48 hours prior to the surgery, refrain from taking aspirin or aspirin substitutes one week before surgery unless advised to take them by their physician, and refrain from smoking during the healing process.

Mohs surgery requires a half-day appointment. It is often shorter, but it is best to plan on being in the office for 4-5 hours. Before undergoing the procedure, the patient will consult with his or her doctor first to discuss the treatment plan and alternative treatments if appropriate. This is necessary so that the surgeon can review your medical history and answer any questions you may have concerning the procedure.

The procedure itself takes very little time, but the processing of the tissue and the number of times that the surgeon must take more tissue determines how long your day will be in the office. Local anesthesia, like that for your biopsy, is used for the procedure, thus avoiding the risks of general anesthesia. The goal at Georgia Skin Cancer is to keep you comfortable throughout your visit. After the surgery, some mild bleeding may occur. It is expected that swelling, bruising, redness, and scabbing may also occur. These are expected side effects and last only a short amount of time.

Since the surgery treats a very important condition, it is strongly recommended that you only consider a board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeon to perform your procedure. Fellowship training ensures that your surgeon has completed 1 to 2 years of specialty training in the Mohs procedure and accurately evaluating cancer tissue microscopically. If you live near Athens, Gainesville, or at Lake Oconee, you may want to visit the clinic of Dr. Ross Campbell, at Georgia Skin Cancer & Aesthetic Dermatology. Browse our website to learn more about an Athens Mohs procedure.