MOHS Skin Cancer Treatments

Mohs (micrographically oriented histographic surgery) is an advanced surgical procedure to treat skin cancer. At the office of Arthur K Balin, MD, PhD, PC, in the Sally Balin Medical Center in Media, Pennsylvania, many patients can benefit from this treatment as it can spare normal tissue and provide an excellent cure rate. Call the office today or schedule an appointment online to determine if you’re a good candidate for Mohs surgery.

What is Mohs surgery?

Mohs surgery is an in-office procedure that treats certain types of skin cancer. Arthur K Balin, MD, PhD, PC, removes one layer of tissue from a cancerous area at a time. He evaluates the tissue under a microscope to check for the presence of cancer. 

He continues removing layers of skin until all cancerous tissue is gone. Mohs surgery is especially helpful in areas like the face, fingers, or genitals as it removes as little normal tissue as possible. 

What happens during Mohs surgery?

A technician cleanses and numbs the treatment area, and then Arthur K Balin, MD, PhD, PC, marks the treatment area to ensure all sites with possible cancer receive treatment. He takes a skin sample from the area, flash freezes the tissue, and views it on a slide under a microscope. He repeats this process until the tissue shows no signs of cancer. 

How long your treatment takes depends on the complexity of the procedure, its location, and how deep the cancer extends. On average, the surgery takes 4-6 hours. 

What are the advantages of Mohs surgery?

Mohs surgery spares maximum normal tissue, leaving minimal scarring and allowing for faster healing. The procedure also has an excellent cure rate and a very low recurrence rate. 

Am I a candidate for Mohs surgery?

Mohs surgery is the treatment of choice for high-risk, nonmelanoma skin cancers. This includes skin cancer on the nose, eyelids, ears, lips, feet, hands, and genitals. The scalp and other areas of the face, neck, and shins are also high-risk areas that benefit from Mohs surgery. If your cancer has certain microscopic growth patterns, Arthur K Balin, MD, PhD, PC, may also recommend Mohs surgery. 

You may also benefit from Mohs surgery if you have a large cancer in a typically low-risk area or your cancer has difficult-to-define borders. Cancers that aren’t completely removed with other methods or that recur after initial treatment also qualify for Mohs surgery. 

Call Arthur K Balin, MD, PhD, PC, today or schedule an appointment online to see if you can benefit from Mohs surgery or other skin cancer treatments.