What does Mohs surgery treat?

During Mohs surgery, the surgeon removes the visible tumour with a narrow margin, maps the specimen, and checks its edges under a microscope. If cancer cells remain at an edge, another thin layer is removed from that precise area. This staged approach can preserve healthy skin around the tumour, which matters on the face, nose, eyelids, ears, fingers, or other areas where tissue is limited.

Mohs is not needed for every skin cancer. The location, size, borders, growth pattern, recurrence history, and pathology help determine whether it or standard surgical excision is more appropriate.

Bring a complete medicine list and tell the surgical team about blood thinners, allergies, bleeding problems, implanted devices, and previous reactions to local anaesthetic. Follow instructions about eating, skin products, and arranging transport. After surgery, keep the dressing and wound care routine exactly as advised and protect the healing site from strain.

Contact the surgical team for bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure, increasing pain, spreading redness, pus, wound separation, or fever. Seek urgent help for heavy bleeding, faintness, facial swelling affecting breathing, or sudden weakness. Keep scheduled wound and pathology reviews so unexpected findings can be addressed.

Ask why Mohs is recommended for your tumour, whether a biopsy has confirmed the diagnosis, how the wound may be repaired, what restrictions apply afterward, and when the final margin and pathology information will be discussed.