Mohs surgery is a surgical procedure for the removal of skin cancer that is a highly precise and highly effective method. It removes the visible tumor and any “roots” that may have extended beneath the skin surface. Mohs surgery is most commonly used for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Cancers that have recurred are often treated with Mohs surgery because the precision of this procedure is ideal for the elimination of cancers in cosmetically and functionally critical areas such as on the head, neck, hands, and feet. (About 90% of Mohs surgery procedures are performed on the face.) Mohs surgery is the most effective and advanced treatment for skin cancer today. It offers the highest potential for cure – even if the skin cancer has been previously treated by another method.

The lesion or tumor cancer is cut away with a scalpel and the wound is closed with sutures. A skin biopsy is a procedure performed in the doctor’s office that removes a portion of skin for diagnostic testing. Skin biopsies are frequently performed on dark spots, moles, or other skin lesions to determine if they may be skin cancer. A skin biopsy may also be
performed if a skin condition cannot be diagnosed by other means, such as through a skin exam and medical history.