Mohs Surgery

Mohs surgery is a specialized technique used to remove cancerous lesions in the skin. It allows physicians to remove skin cancer more effectively while causing less damage to surrounding healthy tissue than any other method. Mohs is particularly ideal for the removal of large tumors, those with irregular edges, and skin cancer that appears on the face or near delicate parts of the body.

The first step in the Mohs micrographic surgery process is the removal of the visible portion of the tumor. This is accomplished through surgical excision. Once this step is complete, a thin sample of tissue is taken from the area from which the tumor was removed and carefully examined with a powerful microscope to screen for the presence of any additional cancerous tissue. If such tissue is found, its precise location is determined and another small section of tissue is removed from this area. This sample is examined under the microscope as well, and the process is continued until it is determined that no additional cancerous tissue remains. By using this systematic method to seek out the roots of a tumor, Mohs surgeons have a 97 to 99 percent chance of successfully removing the entire cancer while leaving the surrounding tissue largely unharmed. The final stage of the Mohs surgical procedure is the closing of the wound left by the excision. The specific method used to complete this step will depend on the size, shape, and location of the incision.

Dr. Vitaly Blatnoy is a board certified dermatologist with many years of surgical experience. He successfully performed thousands of skin cancer surgeries. He is certified by the American Society for Mohs Surgery and serves as a fellow of this organization. If your doctor has referred you to Dr. Blatnoy to have Mohs micrographic surgery at our practice, you will be scheduled for a preoperative consultation. This visit allows Dr. Blatnoy to examine your skin cancer, obtain your medical history, and determine whether the technique of Mohs micrographic surgery is the most appropriate treatment for you. It also gives you the opportunity to meet Dr. Blatnoy and his staff and learn about the procedure.

If you are interested in learning more about Mohs surgery, contact our office. We will gladly answer any questions you might have.