Navigating Skin Cancer: A Comprehensive Guide to Mohs Surgery

Prolonged exposure to the sun, especially in a place like Florida, can leave you susceptible to skin cancers. According to the CDC, over 9 million Americans are diagnosed with this condition annually. If you’ve found something suspicious on your skin, the doctors at Dermatology Associates Skin and Cancer Center can help. One of the best ways to remove skin cancer is with Mohs Surgery. Read on for a guide on Mohs Surgery in Panama City, FL.

What Is Mohs Surgery?

 This treatment’s namesake is Dr. Frederic Mohs, who created it. It's a technique that allows the surgeon to precisely remove the cancerous skin cells layer by layer. Thanks to a microscope, surgeons can determine whether cancerous cells are present in each layer they remove. As a result, all the cancerous cells are caught while the normal skin is mostly unharmed.

What Is the Process Like?

 If Mohs Surgery in Panama City, FL, is used to remove your skin cancer, you can expect an outpatient procedure. The length of the surgical treatment depends on how big the tumor is and how many there are. It can last anywhere from 15 minutes to a few hours. The surgeons will stop when they stop seeing signs of cancer. 

It's an outpatient surgery at Dermatology Associates Skin and Cancer Center, so you will not be under anesthesia. The only part that will be numb is the skin where the tumor will be removed. Once the tumor is removed, surgeons have to stitch the wound closed. Though rare, if a large amount of skin has to be removed due to the size of the tumor, a skin graft from another part of your body may be necessary.

What Are the Benefits Of Mohs Surgery Over Other Methods?

 There are various types of skin cancers. Luckily, this surgical technique has a 99% success rate. What makes this method unique is it goes beyond the cancer on the surface. There are often more cancerous cells beneath the visible mole or lesion. Thanks to the microscopic control used in the removal process, the surgeon can clear out all the cancerous tissue, little by little.

Now you understand more about what goes into this type of procedure. When you need Mohs Surgery in Panama City, FL, visit us at Dermatology Associates Skin and Cancer Center. Call our experts at 850-769-7546 to arrange an appointment for a screening or treatment.