You have been given a frightening diagnosis. You have skin cancer that is affecting your face and scalp. It may not be the first time that you have been affected by this dreaded disease. You want to get a handle on it as soon as possible. No one wants to live with cancer inside of them, especially when it is in such a visible place. Mohs surgery may be the best alternative to you to effectively treat skin cancer. It will give you the opportunity to take control of what is happening with your body and give yourself a better opportunity to avoid another bout of skin cancer in the future.

Is Mohs Surgery the Best Option for You?

Mohs surgery is typically recommended for patients who have skin cancer on the face, neck, and scalp. It is often advised when other methods have failed to effectively treat skin cancer. The first step involves targeting the area to be treated. The area to be treated is numbed with a local anesthetic. The top layer of skin is then removed and tested for the presence of skin cancer. The process will continue, layer by layer, until no more cancer cells are detected. You will know on that day that you are considered cancer-free. Once all cancer has been removed, the wound will need to be closed. If it is a small, simple wound, it can be stitched or sutured. If it is more involved, a skin graft or reconstructive surgery from a plastic surgeon may be necessary.

Why Choose Mohs Surgery?

Mohs surgery can give you peace of mind. You will leave with the reassurance that your skin cancer has been removed. You will also be less likely to have skin cancer strike in this area again after Mohs. Another reason to choose Mohs is to reduce the risk of your cancer spreading from the area. The last thing you want is to risk your skin cancer progressing. You don’t want to be disfigured by skin cancer in a visible area like your scalp, your nose, your ears, your neck, or your face. Skin cancer needs to be treated effectively in order to avoid the spread of cancer to other areas of your body, including your organs. Mohs surgery may be advised as the first response to skin cancer or it may be recommended after less invasive treatments have not been effective.

Talk to Us About Mohs Surgery

Every patient is unique. How you respond to treatment will vary from someone else. Your treatment will also depend on the type of skin cancer that you have. Make an appointment for a consultation with Torrey Pines Dermatology so you can explore your options. We will work together to create a treatment plan that will help you to deal with the cancer in your body. Contact us today!

Mohs surgery, also known as Mohs micrographic surgery, is a procedure used to remove skin cancer. It is known for being precise, thorough, and having an extremely high cure rate. It is particularly effective against basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.

Dr. Frederic E. Mohs (1910-2002) first developed the technique in 1936. The procedure should only be performed by a skilled and qualified surgeon. Dr. Richards at Torrey Pines Dermatology is a board-certified, fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, and has been practicing for over sixteen years. Many patients are not aware that there is a difference in the training of fellowship-trained versus non-fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons. During a Mohs fellowship, fellows are required to perform over 1000 Mohs surgery cases including esthetically repairing the defect using flaps, grafts and side to side closures. Thus it is very important to choose a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon in order to ensure complete removal of the skin cancer and the best esthetic results.

What Does the Procedure Involve?

Mohs surgery is an outpatient procedure performed in the comfort of our office in La Jolla. During the procedure, Dr. Richards will remove the visible tumor along with a thin margin of surrounding tissue. The tissue is then carefully analyzed in our lab. During this process, Dr. Richards maps exactly where the tissue samples come from so she knows where to continue if she finds more cancer cells.

If more cancer is found another layer of skin will be removed and evaluated. Once the samples are clear the repair process will begin. Several different techniques can be used in the repair depending on the size and location of the wound and will be discussed in depth with the patient at the time of closure.

Advantages of Mohs Surgery

Mohs surgery has a very high cure rate. The in-depth examination of the tissue samples reduced the likelihood of any cancer cells being left in the patient’s skin. The cancer is, therefore, less likely to recur, and the patient will need to undergo the procedure only once.

Mohs surgery also reduces the amount of healthy tissue removed, and causes less scarring than other surgical treatments. It is the ideal treatment for cancers found on the face and hands. The benefits of Mohs surgery are endless. You can learn more about how this surgery technique can help you during a consultation with Dr. Richards at Torrey Pines Dermatology. During your visit Dr. Richards will review your pathology results with you and discuss the best course of treatment for your individual needs. Our office is located in La Jolla and we also serve clients in the San Diego and surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!

If you have been diagnosed with basal or squamous cell carcinoma, you are dealing with two of the most common forms of skin cancer. When treated early each of these skin cancers is easily curable. If ignored, skin cancer can progress, spreading to the point where it can cause disfigurement. Often after a biopsy the “tip of the iceberg” or the very top portion of the skin cancer disappears making the skin once again appear normal. Do not be fooled – under the skin the majority of the skin cancer is still growing and will continue to do so until it is completely removed. No matter what, you want it gone. The most precise and effective way of removing skin cancer and preventing its recurrence is a technique called Mohs surgery. Although it has been refined considerably since its conception in 1936 by its founder Frederic Mohs, this is a technique that has been utilized for 80+ years and is bar none the very best.

Who are Mohs Surgeons?

It is important as well to ensure that you are choosing a “fellowship-trained” Mohs surgeon when considering this technique. Fellows of the American College of Mohs Surgery, such as Dr. Richards, go through an extensive fellowship above and beyond dermatology residency training that teaches them not only the Mohs technique, but also how to elegantly repair Mohs defects allowing for the best cosmetic result. When looking for a Mohs surgeon, therefore, it is important to ask your physician if he or she did a Mohs fellowship and whether he or she is a member of the American College of Mohs Surgery.

What’s the Story Behind Mohs Surgery?

Mohs surgery is an extremely precise form of surgery that allows skin cancers to be carefully and completely removed in a step by step fashion. Skin sections are gradually removed from the patient’s skin cancer, brought to our in-house lab and are processed into a microscopic slide. Special stains are then used to illuminate the cancer cells making it much easier to see them under the microscope. Being able to see cancer cells clearly under the microscope prevents “guessing” at how much of a margin to take to ensure the cancer is gone. The Mohs technique is the only technique that provides the assurance that all the cancer is gone while still preserving normal skin because there is no guess work as to what to remove. If you want the peace of mind that comes with knowing the skin cancer was thoroughly removed but normal skin was preserved, Mohs surgery is the best option for you.

What Happens After the Procedure is Over?

Once the skin cancer is removed, Dr. Richards then considers the very best technique for repairing the Mohs defect. This could be allowing the wound to heal on its own, closing the defect side to side or placing a flap or a graft. It is important to carefully consider these options so that the very best cosmetic result can be achieved for the patient. Once the cosmetic repair is complete, the stitches generally will come out in 10 days. Patients leave with a dressing over their repaired site and extensive instructions on how to care for the area. Sometimes an antibiotic is prescribed and rarely a pain pill to ensure the patient is comfortable at home. Once stitches are removed, patients are asked to visit the office on a quarterly basis in the first year for full skin checks. It is important that we keep a close eye on our Mohs surgery patients to make sure that new skin cancers aren’t appearing on other parts of the body. Often we will see a new cancer appearing in a new site within the first year of the last surgery so prevention is key. If you see any new lesions that are bleeding or growing rapidly, be sure to contact our office.

Find Out More Information About Mohs Surgery

If you have been informed that you have basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, review your options for removal. Talk to our fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, Dr. Richards, at Torrey Pines Dermatology in La Jolla about whether Mohs surgery would be the most effective choice for you.  Having the peace of mind afforded by choosing Mohs surgery makes it well worth going through the procedure. Our office serves the San Diego and surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to learn more.

Skin cancer is a dangerous disease causing abnormal growth of skin cells that affects millions of people in the United States each year. While there are several different treatment options for skin cancer, Mohs surgery is one of the most popular and effective options. There are a few limitations with Mohs surgery, so not everyone with skin cancer will be a good candidate to receive this treatment option.

Mohs surgery uses a precise surgical technique to remove thin layers of skin cells containing cancer. The surgeon uses the microscope to examine the issue and make a map of the cancer cells present in the specimen. This process is repeated until the cancer cells are completely removed. Mohs surgery is a very precise and delicate procedure which allows large sections of skin cancer cells to be removed without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue.

Mohs surgery is primarily used to treat the two most common forms of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma as well as a variety of other skin cancer subtypes. If you are suffering from melanoma or another form of rare skin cancer, then you will need a consultation before determining if you are a good candidate for Mohs surgery. In addition to the type of skin cancer you have, there are also several other qualifying criteria that make you a good candidate for Mohs surgery.

Mohs surgery is the best option if your cancer has a high risk of returning or if it has already returned after getting treatment. The cancer cells must also be located in sensitive areas, such as the eyes, ears, mouth, head, feet, hands and nose. Skin cancer cells that are large, aggressive and contain borders that are hard to define are also best treated with Mohs surgery.

Despite being an extremely technical procedure, Mohs surgery is done on an outpatient basis. You will feel minimal discomfort. You will know your results immediately after the surgery is complete, so you will not have to stress for weeks to get the results. Since there are strict criteria for getting Mohs surgery, the procedure is almost always successful at removing all of the skin cancer cells in your body.

If you believe that you might be a good candidate for Mohs surgery, then you should schedule a consultation with Torrey Pines Dermatology in La Jolla as soon as possible. There is no reason to live with this when it can be so easily treated with this procedure. The sooner you schedule your Mohs surgery appointment, the sooner you will be able to get back to your normal life without cancer. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment to learn more about how Mohs surgery can benefit you.