Mohs Surgery for Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer: Patient Care Resources
Mohs micrographic surgery is an advanced surgical technique that precisely removes skin cancer while preserving healthy surrounding tissue. It is an outpatient surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia. It is a tissue sparing procedure that provides very high cure rates, approaching 98-99% in most cases.
WHAT TO KNOW FOR MOHS SURGERY FOR NON-MELANOMA
1Getting Started In Your Care
2Getting Your Diagnosis
3Planning Your Treatment
4Undergoing Treatment & Follow-Up
Non-Melanoma Surgery: About this Treatment
About Surgery for Non-Melanoma »
Mohs Surgery for Non-Melanoma Surgery: About this Treatment
About Mohs Surgery for Non-Melanoma »
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Mohs surgery is a procedure that can be completed in a clinic office in less than a day.
It is a relatively pain-free procedure that uses local anesthesia. This leads to a shorter recovery time at the office and less risk, especially for younger and older patients.
Before
During
After
Your doctor will discuss your treatment options and the skin cancer surgery that best suits you.
During Mohs skin cancer surgery, your skin cancer surgeon will:
- Remove a layer of tissue, and examine it under a microscope.
- If any cancer cells remain, the surgeon knows the exact area where they are and removes another layer of tissue from that precise location, while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible.
- The doctor repeats this process until no cancer cells remain.
Your Mohs surgeon will talk to you about the best way to help the surgical wound heal in order to achieve the best functional and cosmetic result. In some cases, the wound may be very shallow allowing it to heal on its own. In other cases the surgeon may recommend placing sutures to close the wound in a line or using a skin flap or a graft. After the wound is closed, the surgery team will provide you and your family with instructions on how to care for the wound, achieve the best results, and what to expect as the area heals. Although the risk of infection, bleeding and other complications is low, your team will give you information on what to do to and who to contact if this happens.
Your doctor will discuss your treatment options and the skin cancer surgery that best suits you.
close Before
During Mohs skin cancer surgery, your skin cancer surgeon will:
- Remove a layer of tissue, and examine it under a microscope.
- If any cancer cells remain, the surgeon knows the exact area where they are and removes another layer of tissue from that precise location, while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible.
- The doctor repeats this process until no cancer cells remain.
close During
Your Mohs surgeon will talk to you about the best way to help the surgical wound heal in order to achieve the best functional and cosmetic result. In some cases, the wound may be very shallow allowing it to heal on its own. In other cases the surgeon may recommend placing sutures to close the wound in a line or using a skin flap or a graft. After the wound is closed, the surgery team will provide you and your family with instructions on how to care for the wound, achieve the best results, and what to expect as the area heals. Although the risk of infection, bleeding and other complications is low, your team will give you information on what to do to and who to contact if this happens.
close After
If you need Mohs surgery, our dermatology team of skin cancer surgery specialists will manage your care. You are also an important team member. Help us help you by asking questions and raising your concerns.
Your skin cancer surgery team includes doctors with expertise in Mohs surgery:
Your doctors
Dermatologic Oncologist
This type of doctor specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer. Dermatologists in Stanford’s Skin Cancer Program have years of training and experience in cancer care. Cutaneous oncologists are dermatologists who specialize in skin cancer diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing surveillance. Dermatologic surgeons treat early melanomas, which are most likely to be cured following surgical removal.
View All {0} Dermatologic Oncologists »Mohs Surgeon
This skin cancer surgeon is specially trained in Mohs and dermatologic surgery.
Surgeon
Also known as a surgical oncologist, your cancer surgeon specializes in surgical procedures to treat more progressed melanomas.
Surgical oncologists can perform biopsies (taking tiny samples of tissue) to test for cancer and confirm a diagnosis. They help you choose the best type of surgery for your care. Potential options include traditional (open) approaches or minimally invasive techniques to remove tumors and surrounding tissue.
View All {0} Surgeons »Anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist is a doctor who specializes in using medications to block pain during surgery. These medications also help you relax during the procedure or ease you into unconsciousness. After giving medication, your anesthesiologist monitors vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate throughout your surgery and immediate recovery.
Depending on the type of surgery you have, you may need local (small area), regional (larger area), or general (overall) anesthesia. You will meet with your anesthesiologist at your pre-operative visit to review your case in detail.
View All {0} Anesthesiologists »Pathologist
Working closely with your dermatologist and melanoma surgeon, your pathologist performs and reads tests to analyze the melanoma tissue. These doctors have special training to use a microscope to examine the tissues.
View All {0} Pathologists »
Support services
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Stanford Health Library
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