Mohs Surgery

If you have skin cancer, turn to board-certified dermatologist Kathleen Herne, MD, at Integrated Dermatology of West Palm Beach. The practice provides many options for skin cancer, including Mohs surgery — this procedure has success rates of up to 99%. To ensure your best possible health outcomes, schedule an evaluation for Mohs surgery by calling the office in West Palm Beach, Florida, or using the online scheduling tool today.

What is Mohs surgery, and what types of skin cancer does it treat?

Mohs micrographic surgery is an advanced surgical technique for skin cancer named after its inventor, Dr. Frederic Mohs. This specialized solution enables your provider to remove skin cancer in its entirety, going layer-by-layer to ensure thorough care and minimal damage to the surrounding skin.

Integrated Dermatology of West Palm Beach offers Mohs surgery due to its high cure rate, even in hard-to-treat cases. Dr. Herne is a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery and performs this procedure. She might recommend Mohs surgery to treat:

Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer type, originating deep in the epidermis. It’s slow-growing and doesn’t usually spread to other body areas. It may appear as an unusual lesion or an area with a waxy or shiny appearance. 

Squamous cell carcinoma

If left untreated, squamous cell carcinoma can spread to other areas of your body. It originates in the upper skin layers and typically looks like a suspicious bump, growth, or sore. 

Melanoma

This is the most severe of the common skin cancer types. Melanoma begins in the pigment-producing cells (melanocytes), which is why it can affect an existing mole or cause a new mole to appear. 

How should I prepare for Mohs surgery?

Prior to your Mohs surgery, you may need to temporarily halt certain medications. It’s also a good idea to set aside the whole day for the surgery since there’s no way to predict how long Mohs surgery will take. 

What can I expect during Mohs surgery?

After administering local anesthesia, Dr. Herne removes a thin portion of the skin cancer and examines it with a microscope to locate cancer cells precisely. 

She repeats this process until the area is free of cancer cells and repairs the skin with stitches or a small graft. Many wounds are small enough to heal independently.

While normal excision treatments remove a margin of healthy skin around a cancerous lesion, a primary advantage of Mohs surgery is that it preserves as much healthy skin as possible. This is particularly important for readily visible areas, such as the face.

Skin cancer can be a frightening diagnosis, but Integrated Dermatology of West Palm Beach has the best options to remove it, including Mohs surgery. Call today or book an appointment online to find out more about Mohs surgery.