Mohs And Excision Surgery

Integrated Dermatology of Brookline

Dermatologists located in Brookline, MA & Andover, MA

If you have skin cancer or another type of skin imperfection you’d like removed, you can turn to Integrated Dermatology of Brookline in Brookline and Andover, Massachusetts. Board-certified dermatologists Miaoyuan Wang, MD, Alan Rockoff, MD, and their team offer Mohs and excision surgery to give you beautiful, healthier, cancer-free skin. Call the office for an appointment or book online today.

Mohs and Excision Surgery Q & A

What is Mohs and excision surgery?

Mohs and excision surgery are two types of surgeries that can remove skin cancer and other skin abnormalities. During Mohs surgery, your provider uses a precise surgical technique to remove cancer-containing tissue layer by layer until only healthy skin remains.

Why might I need Mohs or excision surgery?

The Integrated Dermatology of Brookline team might recommend you undergo Mohs or excision surgery if you have basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, or another type of skin cancer.

Mohs surgery is beneficial for treating skin cancer that:

Has a high risk of recurrence
Has come back after previous treatments
Is present on sensitive areas of the skin
Is large or aggressive
Has difficult-to-define borders

A common sign of skin cancer is a change in the appearance of skin tissue. Moles or raised bumps that change in size, color, shape, or texture can indicate skin cancer. Skin discoloration, bleeding, crusting, and scabbing are also signs of possible cancerous tissue.

What should I expect during Mohs and excision surgery?

To prepare for Mohs or excision surgery, follow your dermatologist’s instructions. Stop taking certain medications or dietary supplements if needed, and wear comfortable clothing the day of the procedure.

Right before surgery, your dermatologist numbs the treatment area so you don’t feel any discomfort. They use a scalpel to remove portions of the cancerous tissue along with an underlying tissue layer. Your specialist places a bandage over the treatment area and has a laboratory analyze your tissue.

After about an hour, your dermatologist can remove additional tissue if cancer remains. They repeat the process until the remaining tissue is cancer-free and treat your wound with stitches or grafts as needed. The entire procedure might last a few hours.

What happens after the procedure?

Mohs is an outpatient procedure, so after the treatment and excision surgery, you can head home. Take care of your wound by following your dermatologist’s instructions. Keep the area clean and apply medications and bandages as directed. Attend follow-up visits with your surgeon.

Don’t let skin cancer go untreated and cause serious complications. At the first sign of a skin abnormality and to determine if Mohs and excision surgery is right for you, call Integrated Dermatology of Brookline or schedule a consultation online today.

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