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What Should I Expect During Mohs Surgery?

Mohs Micrographic Surgery Memphis

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Mohs surgery is a highly advanced skin cancer removal technique and is used to treat the most common types of skin cancers (basal and squamous cell carcinoma and occasionally melanoma). The procedure ensures the entire cancer is removed while leaving the surrounding tissue intact. With early diagnosis, you can expect a 99% cure rate with Mohs surgery -the highest rate of any skin cancer removal treatment.

Mohs surgery requires extensive training and years of expertise. Not all dermatologists can perform the procedure equally. Dr. Levy & Dr. Huber are a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in Mohs micrographic surgery. In most cases, your skin cancer removal will be done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthetic.

 

 

 

Your procedure can take anywhere from 1-3 hours. Mohs surgery is not something that should or can be rushed so we typically recommend you make a day out of it. Bring a book, some snacks, or just relax. The procedure is generally well tolerated with little to no discomfort involved.

After numbing the treatment area, Dr. Levy or Dr. Huber will meticulously work to remove the visible tumor leaving the benign (non-cancerous) tissue untouched. A specialized shaving method is then used to remove one layer of surrounding skin at a time. The layer will be sent to our in-house lab for review under a microscope to determine whether cancer cells are present. The process continues layer by layer until you are deemed cancer-free.

Once the entire cancer is extracted, Dr. Huber or Dr. Levy will reconstruct and close the wound. In some cases, a simple suture can do the trick. Other wounds may need stitches or skin grafts. What’s right for you will be based on the size, depth, and location of your tumor.

Early diagnosis is key. Regular skin cancer checks are recommended either annually or on a semi-annual basis. At the time of your exam and skin biopsy, Dr. Huber or Dr. Levy will determine the seriousness of your growth and either schedule an appointment for removal or perform the removal immediately. Before your Mohs surgery, Dr. Huber or Dr. Levy will walk you through every aspect of the procedure in-depth keeping you well-informed about your treatment.

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To learn more Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma removal, please schedule your consultation by either filling out the form on this page or by calling Levy Dermatology, serving Memphis & Collierville at (901) 624-3333. We look forward to working with you!

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Learn more today about medical and cosmetic dermatology services today. Simply fill out the form on this page, and one of our highly trained medical staff at Levy Dermatology will reach out to you promptly to schedule your consultation.