Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
Should I Get Mohs Surgery?
How it Works
Conditions Treated
Benefits and Risks
Preparation
Recovery and Aftercare
Cancer Recurrence
Alternative Treatments
Next in Mohs Surgery Guide
While other skin cancer treatments are available, Mohs surgery is considered the gold standard because of its top-line efficacy against two forms of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It can also be used to treat other forms of skin cancer.
Ugur Karakoc / Getty Images
Choosing the rightcancer treatmentis a personal decision. Your healthcare provider will walk you through all of your options and allow you to weigh the risks and benefits of each before deciding on one.
That said, if you havebasal cell carcinomaor squamous cell carcinoma or are worried aboutcancer recurrence, Mohs surgery may be the best form of treatment for you. It’s also a good option for those looking for minimal scarring, less damage to the skin surrounding the area, and those who do not want to do more invasive treatments.
Mohs Surgery Cure RateAccording to the Skin Cancer Foundation, Mohs surgery offers a 99% cure rate forskin cancerthat has not yet been treated using other methods.
Mohs Surgery Cure Rate
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, Mohs surgery offers a 99% cure rate forskin cancerthat has not yet been treated using other methods.
Mohs Surgery Pictures: Before and After Skin Reconstruction
How Mohs Surgery Works
Mohs surgery is considered a less invasive option for skin cancer. The procedure is performed in one visit but in stages. The process is as follows:
Why Is Mohs Surgery So Effective?Mohs surgery is so effective because the process is localized, removes all cancer cells meticulously, and allows a person to keep as much healthy surrounding tissue as possible.
Why Is Mohs Surgery So Effective?
Mohs surgery is so effective because the process is localized, removes all cancer cells meticulously, and allows a person to keep as much healthy surrounding tissue as possible.
Conditions Treated With Mohs Surgery
Mohs surgery is typically recommended for people with basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. These cancers are rarely fatal because they grow slowly and don’t typically spread or spread so slowly that they are often caught early.
When it comes to both cancers, Mohs surgery is typically recommended if:
In some cases, Mohs surgery can also treat other forms of skin cancer. For example,a specific type of melanomaknown as lentigo malignant melanoma or melanoma in situ can be treated using Mohs surgery if it is caught early enough.
Rare skin cancers, such as extramammary Paget’s disease,Merkel cell carcinoma, and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) can also be treated using Mohs surgery in some cases.
Deciding to Use Mohs SurgeryMedical providers will assess the cancer, location, and aggressiveness to determine when to use Mohs. Though it is a first-line treatment, it is not recommended for all cases.
Deciding to Use Mohs Surgery
Medical providers will assess the cancer, location, and aggressiveness to determine when to use Mohs. Though it is a first-line treatment, it is not recommended for all cases.
Purpose of Mohs Surgery
Benefits and Risks of Mohs Surgery
There are various advantages to taking the Mohs surgery route for treating skin cancer. The benefits include:
One of the biggest disadvantages of Mohs surgery is that it isn’t as effective for other forms of skin cancer, such as some forms ofmelanoma.As is the case with all types of surgery, there are some potential risks and complications. Though Mohs surgery is considered exceptionally safe, some possible adverse events can develop, including:
Preparing for Mohs Surgery
A person must do various things to prepare for Mohs surgery. Each precaution is taken at a set time before the procedure:
Two Weeks Prior to Surgery
Two weeks before your scheduled Mohs surgery, you will be asked tostop smokingbecause it can interfere with the way the wound heals following the procedure. You will also be asked to avoid certain medications that may increase the risk of excessive bleeding, including:
One Week Prior to Surgery
24 Hours Prior to Surgery
On the day of surgery and in the 24 hours before it, you should avoid consuming alcohol of any kind. It can cause an increase in blood pressure and a higher risk of bleeding.
Day of Surgery
When the day of surgery arrives, you should do several things to ensure that you are well-prepared for the best possible outcome. They include:
Though you won’t go undergeneral anesthesia, you may also want to bring a relative or friend with you to keep you company and for moral support.
Preparing the Skin for Mohs SurgeryThough your surgeon and the surgical team will ensure that the area is thoroughly cleansed beforehand, you should also shower and clean the area on the day of your surgery. Also, avoid adding any lotions or creams to the site.
Preparing the Skin for Mohs Surgery
Though your surgeon and the surgical team will ensure that the area is thoroughly cleansed beforehand, you should also shower and clean the area on the day of your surgery. Also, avoid adding any lotions or creams to the site.
After the procedure is complete, there may be a repair process to close and care for the wound. It will include reconstruction options, such as a skin flap, to ensure the wound closes and heals effectively with minimal scarring. Typically, the fewer layers of skin that need to be removed, the less likely a person will require reconstruction.
The surgical team will also provide at-home care instructions to ensure youheal properlyand avoid complications like infection. They include:
These recommendations are not set in stone because each person is different, and their experience with Mohs surgery will vary significantly. Because healing is unique to the individual, the guidelines on aftercare will be too. That said, some general tips on aftercare include:
Minimizing Scarring After Mohs Surgery
Ensuring that your scar is as unnoticeable as possible requires that you:
Can the Cancer Come Back?
Mohs surgery is highly effective and can cure skin cancer in up to 99% of cases. However, the cancer can come back in the same area.
Research shows that the recurrence rate for those withbasal cell carcinomaandsquamous cell carcinomais roughly 1.3 per 100 person-years and 4.5 per 100 person-years, respectively.
Risk Factors for RecurrenceWhile recurrence can happen in anyone, there are several risk factors associated with a higher rate of the cancer returning. They include:AgeNon-primary tumorsImmunosuppression
Risk Factors for Recurrence
While recurrence can happen in anyone, there are several risk factors associated with a higher rate of the cancer returning. They include:AgeNon-primary tumorsImmunosuppression
While recurrence can happen in anyone, there are several risk factors associated with a higher rate of the cancer returning. They include:
Mohs surgery is a highly successful procedure with a cure rate of 99%. The cosmetic appearance following surgery is also better than other forms of treatment, with many people developing minimal scarring while keeping the healthy surrounding tissue intact.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, as many as 60% of people who develop skin cancer will be diagnosed with a second form of it within a decade. Because of that, scheduling and attending regular follow-up appointments and skin cancer screenings is vital to ensure that if you do develop skin cancer again, it can be caught early and cured or effectively treated.
Alternative Treatments for Skin Cancer
Some nonsurgical treatments for skin cancer include:
Alternative treatments may be helpful in treating skin cancer, but none offer the same efficacy as Mohs surgery. Little clinical evidence supports that many alternative therapies, especially herbal and botanical solutions, do much in the way of treating skin cancer.
When deciding between Mohs surgery and other treatment methods, weighing your options is crucial.
Talking to Your Healthcare TeamWhen deciding whether Mohs surgery is right for you, it’s crucial to be upfront and honest with your healthcare team about your desired results and fears. They will help provide you with alternative options to consider and the benefits and drawbacks associated with Mohs surgery to ensure that you make the most informed and best decision for you.
Talking to Your Healthcare Team
When deciding whether Mohs surgery is right for you, it’s crucial to be upfront and honest with your healthcare team about your desired results and fears. They will help provide you with alternative options to consider and the benefits and drawbacks associated with Mohs surgery to ensure that you make the most informed and best decision for you.
Summary
Mohs surgery is a minimally invasive form of skin cancer treatment with a 99% success rate. Because it is so highly effective at curing certain skin cancers, namely basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, it’s considered the gold standard of care.
People with other cancers, such as melanoma or other rare forms, may or may not be candidates for Mohs surgery, depending on the type and case. Because there are few side effects and the promise of minimal scarring following Mohs surgery, many people opt for the procedure over other forms of care to cure their skin cancer.
Before making any decisions, speaking to a healthcare provider about Mohs surgery and whether it’s right for you is essential. They will walk you through the procedure and allow you to make an informed decision regarding your care.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Skin Cancer Foundation.Mohs surgery.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What is Mohs surgery?UCSF Health.Basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Mohs surgery.Alam M, Ibrahim O, Nodzenski M, et al.Adverse events associated with Mohs micrographic surgery: multicenter prospective cohort study of 20,821 cases at 23 centers.JAMA Dermatol.2013 Dec;149(12):1378-85. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.6255Stanford Medicine Health Care.Preparing for Mohs surgery.American College of Mohs Surgery.Post-operative care.University of Rochester Medical Center.Mohs surgery post-operative care.Tomás-Velázquez A, Sanmartin-Jiménez O, Garcés JR, et al.Risk factors and rate of recurrence after Mohs surgery in basal cell and zquamous cell carcinomas: a nationwide prospective cohort (REGESMOHS, Spanish Registry of Mohs Surgery).Acta Derm Venereol. 2021 Nov 24;101(11):adv00602. doi:10.2340/actadv.v101.544American Society for Mohs Surgery.Mohs surgery success rates: what you need to know.Skin Cancer Foundation.More than one?Yale Medicine.Photodynamic therapy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Imiquimod: skin cancer treatment FAQs.MedlinePlus.Fluorouracil topical.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Skin Cancer Foundation.Mohs surgery.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What is Mohs surgery?UCSF Health.Basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Mohs surgery.Alam M, Ibrahim O, Nodzenski M, et al.Adverse events associated with Mohs micrographic surgery: multicenter prospective cohort study of 20,821 cases at 23 centers.JAMA Dermatol.2013 Dec;149(12):1378-85. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.6255Stanford Medicine Health Care.Preparing for Mohs surgery.American College of Mohs Surgery.Post-operative care.University of Rochester Medical Center.Mohs surgery post-operative care.Tomás-Velázquez A, Sanmartin-Jiménez O, Garcés JR, et al.Risk factors and rate of recurrence after Mohs surgery in basal cell and zquamous cell carcinomas: a nationwide prospective cohort (REGESMOHS, Spanish Registry of Mohs Surgery).Acta Derm Venereol. 2021 Nov 24;101(11):adv00602. doi:10.2340/actadv.v101.544American Society for Mohs Surgery.Mohs surgery success rates: what you need to know.Skin Cancer Foundation.More than one?Yale Medicine.Photodynamic therapy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Imiquimod: skin cancer treatment FAQs.MedlinePlus.Fluorouracil topical.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Skin Cancer Foundation.Mohs surgery.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What is Mohs surgery?UCSF Health.Basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Mohs surgery.Alam M, Ibrahim O, Nodzenski M, et al.Adverse events associated with Mohs micrographic surgery: multicenter prospective cohort study of 20,821 cases at 23 centers.JAMA Dermatol.2013 Dec;149(12):1378-85. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.6255Stanford Medicine Health Care.Preparing for Mohs surgery.American College of Mohs Surgery.Post-operative care.University of Rochester Medical Center.Mohs surgery post-operative care.Tomás-Velázquez A, Sanmartin-Jiménez O, Garcés JR, et al.Risk factors and rate of recurrence after Mohs surgery in basal cell and zquamous cell carcinomas: a nationwide prospective cohort (REGESMOHS, Spanish Registry of Mohs Surgery).Acta Derm Venereol. 2021 Nov 24;101(11):adv00602. doi:10.2340/actadv.v101.544American Society for Mohs Surgery.Mohs surgery success rates: what you need to know.Skin Cancer Foundation.More than one?Yale Medicine.Photodynamic therapy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Imiquimod: skin cancer treatment FAQs.MedlinePlus.Fluorouracil topical.
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American Academy of Dermatology Association.What is Mohs surgery?
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Johns Hopkins Medicine.Mohs surgery.
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Stanford Medicine Health Care.Preparing for Mohs surgery.
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University of Rochester Medical Center.Mohs surgery post-operative care.
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American Society for Mohs Surgery.Mohs surgery success rates: what you need to know.
Skin Cancer Foundation.More than one?
Yale Medicine.Photodynamic therapy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Imiquimod: skin cancer treatment FAQs.
MedlinePlus.Fluorouracil topical.
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