Mohs surgery is a technique performed by a dermatologist who specializes in the procedure. Pieces of a skin cancer are removed, processed, and analyzed on the same day under a microscope to determine if all of the cancer has been removed. This is a way of ensuring more of the borders of the skin cancer has been analyzed. Most of the time, the dermatologist feels comfortable closing the wound. However, occasionally the resultant wound is too large, and is then referred to a plastic surgeon to repair. Typical repair techniques include using a skin graft, flaps of surrounding tissue, or flaps of tissue from another area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I have much pain after this surgery?
Typically, you may feel a bit swollen and achy, however this generally goes away after several days.
How long will it take before the swelling and pink scar goes away?
Normal scar remodeling may take up to 6 months. Sometimes, a pink scar may take 1-2 years to fade into your regular skin tone. It is a good idea to perform scar massage and use sunscreen starting 3 weeks after your procedure.
