Winter time and early spring is a great time to plan your Mohs surgery before the sunshine and warmth have us back in shorts, sleeveless shirts, and bathing suits. Your wounds will have plenty of time to heal and the skin will look its best just in plenty of time before summer arrives. All you will need then is your sunscreen and a smile because your skin will be looking amazing after your Mohs Surgery!

What Is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs Surgery is a highly effective treatment for the removal of certain types of skin cancer lesions. It is the most successful and least invasive technique for removing skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. This technique was designed to remove the entire tumor with minimal amounts of the surrounding healthy tissue. This helps to provide minimal disfigurement and is ideal for the face, ears, genitals, and more. Mohs surgery has been highly effective for skin cancers that have a high rate of recurrence and is great for treating aggressive lesions or those with poorly defined borders. Mohs Surgery is performed with local anesthesia thereby having fewer risks than with general anesthesia.

What Happens During Mohs Surgery?

Because Mohs Surgery is performed with local anesthesia, it is an out-patient surgery that is typically performed in the doctor’s office. The surgeon will begin by removing layers of the skin and then putting it on a slide to examine under a microscope. If they see cancer in that layer of tissue, they will remove another layer and examine that layer under the microscope. This will continue until there are no cancerous cells on the layer that has been removed. This process ensures that no cancerous cells are left behind to grow and spread. When the doctor is satisfied that he has removed all of the cancerous cells, he will do any reconstruction, skin grafts, or stitches that are necessary before sending you home. The wound is usually covered and pressurized for 24 hours to promote clotting and lower the risk of blood loss. You will be instructed to keep the surgical site dry for at least one day to reduce the chance of infection. It is important to avoid heavy lifting and physical activities for 1 or 2 days. The doctor will give you complete instructions for caring for your wound before you leave his office.

Mohs Surgery Tucson AZ

*Individual Results May Vary

Will Mohs Surgery Leave A Scar?

As with any surgery, some scarring will occur, however, Mohs surgery lowers the risk of permanent scars. Proper wound care after the procedure is crucial in minimizing scarring as well. The more vigilant you are about avoiding sun exposure and covering the wound with a silicone dressing to keep it moist, the less likely you will be to have permanent scars from this surgery. Post-surgical scars will continue to improve for up to a year after the surgery as new blood vessels appear and help heal the surgical site. So while scarring will occur, it will soften and fade over time.

I highly recommend this office! Great people, wonderful service! They never make you feel uncomfortable rather always a pleasure!

Catherine M.

Take The Next Step

It is important to schedule a consultation so that you can begin your journey to healthy skin. Dr. Christopher Weyer of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery of Arizona, is a Board Certified Dermatologist and a Fellowship Trained Mohs Surgeon. He would love to have you schedule a consultation with him regarding whether or not Mohs surgery is right for you. You can schedule a consultation with Dr. Weyer by calling his Tucson office at 520-207-3100 or his Sierra Vista location at 520-458-1787. You may also schedule an appointment by completing the form on this page. His offices are conveniently located at 698 East Wetmore, Suite #310 in Tucson, Arizona and 150 South Coronado Drive Suite #110 in Sierra Vista, Arizona.