Mohs surgery is the most effective method for treating squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), the most common skin cancer. Mohs surgery has appeared to be very successful in curing skin cancer, allowing the elimination of cancerous cells, leaving small scars, and sparing the healthy tissues. Only specialized dermatologists like Dr. William T. Long can perform Mohs surgery.
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What is the procedure of Mohs Surgery?
Doctors who are specially trained to perform Mohs surgery must fulfill three roles: as a pathologist to analyze the lab specimens, as a surgeon who removes cancerous tissues, and as a surgeon who reconstructs or closes the wound. The surgeon removes cancerous tissues from your skin and creates a map of the affected area after marking the edges with colored dyes. The lab technician then processes the tissues on the microscope.
The surgeon then examines the tissues under the microscope to map and identify cancer’s remaining roots. If any cancer cells are determined, different tissues are removed only where cancer remains, maintaining the normal skin.
Advantages of Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery has the highest curing rate compared to other current skin cancer treatments, around 99%.
Using one physician as both the pathologist and the surgeon during Mohs surgery reduces the lack of proper communication between the pathologist and surgeon, minimizing errors that arise with other skin cancer treatment.
Immediate results are obtained, and accuracy in skin cancer removal increases because the clear tissue margins are removed rather than an estimate. It reduces the complication of re-establishment in certain parts of the body.
Mohs surgery ensures the complete elimination of cancerous cells, reducing the chances of them growing back.
What are the Risks of Mohs Surgery?
Local anesthesia is used with Mohs surgery to reduce surgical risks brought about by the use of general anesthesia.
Excessive bleeding from the wound increases the risk of wound infection. It also causes discomfort and swelling, wound healing delay, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness.
If a tumor touches a nerve, a person may lose nerve function; this might be permanent or temporary.
After surgery, make sure you take care of your wound and your surgical site carefully on a daily basis to avoid infections.
Reconstruction after Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery can leave a defect in the area the skin cancer was removed. Reconstruction is aimed at rebuilding a patient back to normal.
There are several wound repairing options, including:
Healing by granulation – This means letting the wound heal naturally. Certain areas in the body are left to heal naturally because they recover the same way as the surgical procedure. Some reconstructive surgery can be performed if the wound is left to heal on its own but the resultant scar is unacceptable.
Sewing the wound using side-to-side closure – This involves stitching the skin edges together. This method typically offers excellent results and speeds the healing process.
Skin grafting – involves borrowing skin from another area and placing it where cancerous cells have been removed over the wound
If you are diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma and want the best treatment, contact Manhattan Dermatology or visit their offices near you and save your life. They also offer reconstruction services after a surgery to ensure the wounds are fully healed with no complications.