Mohs Surgery
in St. Peters, MO
What is Mohs surgery?
Mohs surgery is the most effective treatment for the most common non-melanoma skin cancers, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. The Mohs procedure involves surgically removing skin cancer layer by layer and examining the tissue under a microscope until healthy, cancer-free tissue around the tumor is reached (called clear margins).
Each Forefront Mohs surgeon is specially trained as a cancer surgeon, pathologist, and reconstructive surgeon. This results in Mohs surgery having the highest success rate of all skin cancer treatments—up to 99 percent.
Because Mohs surgery has such a high success rate, most patients require only a single procedure.
REQUEST NOWThe history of Mohs Surgery
Mohs micrographic surgery was invented in the 1930s by Dr. Frederic Mohs at the University of Wisconsin, but it didn’t develop into a mainstream treatment until practitioners such as NYU dermatologist and Skin Cancer Foundation founder Perry Robins, MD, refined the technique and spread the practice in the 70s and 80s.
The most obvious difference between Mohs surgery and routine excisional surgery is that Mohs is done in stages, with lab testing done on site.
What does Mohs surgery treat?
Generally, patients who have been diagnosed with basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma are candidates for Mohs surgery around the head and neck area. Mohs surgery may also be effective for some cases of Melanoma. Your Forefront dermatologist will discuss all treatment options with you in detail.
Who should have Mohs surgery?
Because of its high success rate, Mohs surgery is most often recommended for high-risk, nonmelanoma skin cancers. Skin cancers on the nose, eyelids, lips, ears, hands, feet and genitals are all considered high-risk. Those on other areas of the face, scalp, neck and shins are considered intermediate-risk.
Other skin cancers also treated with Mohs surgery include:
- Large cancers in normally low-risk areas
- Skin cancers with difficult-to-see borders
- Skin cancers with certain microscopic growth patterns
- Skin cancers that have recurred after initial treatment
- Skin cancers that were not completely removed via other procedures
Mohs surgery is an optimal treatment for nonmelanoma skin cancers that grow in scar tissue or areas of prolonged inflammation, as well as skin that had previously been treated with radiation therapy.
What is the Mohs procedure like?
Mohs surgery is a precise, staged procedure used to remove skin cancer while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
The process begins with your Forefront surgeon numbing the area and carefully removing a thin layer of cancerous skin. This layer is immediately examined under a microscope in an on-site lab to determine if any cancer cells remain. If cancer cells are still present, the surgeon removes another thin layer from the affected areas and repeats the process until all cancer is gone. This method allows for complete removal of cancer while minimizing damage to surrounding skin.
Once the skin is cancer-free, the surgeon may close the wound with stitches, allow it to heal naturally, or use a skin graft or flap if needed.
Recovery from Mohs surgery varies depending on the size and location of the removed cancer. Most patients experience mild swelling, bruising, and discomfort for a few days. Stitches, if used, are typically removed within a week. Healing can take several weeks, and patients should follow wound care instructions to prevent infection and minimize scarring. Sun protection and regular follow-ups are essential to monitor for any recurrence or new skin cancers.
What results can be expected from Mohs surgery?
Mohs surgery is very effective for removing skin cancers.
According to statistics reported by the American College of Mohs Surgery, “Mohs micrographic surgery has the highest cure rate of all treatments for basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers” with a cure rate exceeding “99 percent for new skin cancers and 95 percent for recurrent skin cancers.”
If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer or have a spot you are concerned about, find a Forefront location near you today to discuss Mohs surgery or other treatment options.
1 Location in the St. Peters, MO area
Interested in Mohs Surgery? Request a consultation with a skin specialist today.
*Treatment options may vary at each location.Please confirm your desired treatment is offered at your preferred location when scheduling. *Age Restriction.
For patients scheduling who are under 18 years of age (19 in Alabama and Nebraska) please make sure you have permission from your parent or legal guardian to schedule this appointment. Your parent or legal guardian must accompany you on your initial visit and on certain subsequent visits to provide appropriate informed consent.