Mohs surgery is considered the most advanced and effective technique for removing common skin cancers. An outpatient procedure performed by specially-trained doctors like Dr. Marshall, Mohs surgery has the highest success rate of all treatments of skin cancer — up to 98 percent.
The first stage removes most of the problem, but a small portion is left behind.
The obstacles to removing skin ailments include either taking too much healthy tissue out or just the opposite – not taking out enough and removing the whole problem. Missing affected tissue often leads to the problem just reoccuring or getting worse. The state-of-the-art Mohs procedure is particularly effective for the removal of recurring cancers, large tumors, deep lesions and growths on the face, neck and scalp. The technique allows the surgeon to pinpoint all of the tissue surrounding the tumor, which means little of the surrounding healthy tissue is removed. This not only minimizes scarring but also promotes faster healing since the surgical wound is no larger than necessary.
During the procedure, layers of tissue are removed and examined under a microscope for the presence of cancer. The process of removing each layer of tissue is repeated until all cancer cells are gone. Removing and examining each layer takes about 45 minutes, with most of the time spent examining the tissue under a microscope.
Developed by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs, the treatment has been continuously refined over seven decades. Since Doctor Marshall is trained in surgery, pathology, and reconstruction, the Mohs technique is the preferred treatment for cancers of the face and other sensitive areas