Mohs Surgery

Mohs surgery removes a skin cancer in carefully checked layers while preserving as much healthy skin as possible.

A surgeon removes a thin layer, maps it, and examines its edges under a microscope. If cancer cells remain at an edge, only the matching area is removed next. This approach is often considered when a cancer is on a cosmetically or functionally important site, has unclear borders, or has returned after earlier treatment.

You usually go home after the procedure with a dressing and specific wound-care instructions. The area may feel tender, tight, bruised, or mildly swollen while it settles. Keep the site clean as directed, avoid pulling on the wound, and protect it from rubbing and sun exposure. If stitches are used, the clinician will explain when they should be removed. The repair may be allowed to heal naturally, closed with stitches, or reconstructed with a flap or graft.

Bleeding, infection, delayed healing, numbness, pain, and a noticeable scar can occur after skin surgery. The chance and impact differ with the body site, wound size, medicines that affect bleeding, and the type of repair, so there is no single meaningful frequency for every person. Contact the treating team promptly for bleeding that does not stop with steady pressure, spreading redness, worsening pain, pus, fever, or a dressing concern.

The layer-by-layer examination aims to confirm that the visible treatment area has clear edges before the repair is completed. That can make Mohs surgery useful for selected basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. A clear result at surgery does not replace follow-up: skin cancers can recur at a treated site, and new skin cancers can develop elsewhere. Ongoing skin checks and attention to a changing scar or new lesion remain worthwhile.

The appointment can include more than one removal-and-examination cycle, with waiting between cycles while tissue is processed. Bring a list of medicines and allergies, and arrange transport if the clinic advises it or if you expect to feel uncomfortable after the visit.

A dermatologist or surgical team considers the diagnosis, biopsy findings, location, size, border definition, previous treatment, and your general health. It may be discussed for cancers on areas where saving healthy skin matters, such as parts of the face, ears, hands, or lower legs. A biopsy is generally used to establish what the lesion is before a treatment plan is chosen.

The clinician marks the area and injects local anaesthetic. A narrow layer of tissue is removed and temporarily bandaged. While it is examined, you wait at the clinic; additional local anaesthetic is given if another targeted layer is needed. When the edges are clear, the team discusses the wound closure and gives written aftercare instructions.

Plan for a quiet recovery period on the day of surgery. Follow the instructions for bathing, dressings, activity, and pain relief because advice depends on the repair. At review, the clinician checks healing and discusses future skin surveillance. A scar continues to mature after the surface has closed, and scar-care advice may be offered when appropriate.

Tell the team about blood-thinning medicines, implanted devices, allergies, previous wound-healing problems, and any tendency to form raised scars. The final scar is influenced by the size and position of the wound as well as how it heals. A repair can occasionally need further care if healing is slow or if the wound edges separate.

Standard surgical excision, topical treatment, destructive treatments, or radiation may be options in particular circumstances. The appropriate choice depends on the confirmed cancer type, its features, its location, and whether it has been treated before. The clinician can explain why one approach fits the lesion better than another.

Look for a dermatologist or surgeon who can explain the diagnosis, the planned repair, wound-care support, and follow-up. Bring photographs or prior pathology information if you have them. Before booking, ask who will contact you with results or concerns after the procedure and how to reach the clinic outside normal hours.