What is Mohs Surgery?

What your dermatologists in Weymouth, MA, serving Boston’s south shore want you to know about Mohs Surgery

Although skin cancer is a serious diagnosis, there is a revolutionary new treatment for it called Mohs surgery. The dermatologists at South Coast Dermatology & Cosmetic Center in Weymouth, MA, serving Boston’s south shore, Dr. Susan DeCoste, Dr. Teresa DiGiacomo, Dr. Heidi Anderson-Docktor, and Dr. Courtney Csikesz want to introduce you to the many benefits of Mohs surgery.

Mohs surgery works differently by focusing on treating skin, layer-by-layer. Thin layers of tissue are removed one at a time and examined under the microscope to identify and remove abnormal and cancerous cells. Mohs surgery is especially effective in treating squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.

Mohs surgery is very effective. In fact, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the cure rate for initial cases of skin cancer is up to 99%, and up to 94% for recurrent skin cancer cases.

Effectiveness is not the only reason you should consider Mohs surgery. There are many other benefits that set Mohs surgery apart. Consider that Mohs surgery is:

• More comfortable because Mohs treatment only requires local anesthetic and is much less invasive than conventional surgery
• More cosmetically pleasing because only minimal tissue is removed, resulting in minimal to no scarring
• More convenient because Mohs treatment is performed on an outpatient basis

It’s important to remember to help prevent skin cancer by limiting your exposure to the sun. If you do spend time in the sun, remember to apply a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 to 30 or higher if you have fair skin or spend long hours out in the sun.

Do a self-check of your moles periodically to look for any changes in the size, shape, borders, or color of your moles. Prevention of skin cancer only takes a few minutes, but it can save your life.

For more information about Mohs surgery, skin cancer, and other dermatology topics call the dermatologists at South Coast Dermatology & Cosmetic Center in Weymouth, MA, and serving Boston’s south shore today!