What is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs micrographic surgery, also called Mohs surgery, is a treatment offered in our Portage and St. Joseph offices for squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] and basal cell carcinoma [BCC]. In this procedure, one of our board-certified Mohs surgeons will remove skin tissue from a suspicious lesion one layer at a time, doing pathology on the tissue as it is removed. This layer-by-layer process allows them to remove all the cancerous skin, while leaving as much healthy skin as possible. The surgeon will remove tissue samples until all the cancer is gone.

Steps Leading Up to Mohs Surgery:

1. A patient comes in for their annual full body skin exam or with a spot of concern. In that office visit a biopsy is taken from a concerning lesion. That tissue is sent to the lab.
2. Once we receive the biopsy report back, your provider will look over the results and communicate their recommended treatments.
3. A member of our Pathology Department will call the patient to discuss biopsy results and go over the recommended treatment options.
4. If the patient chooses Mohs surgery, they will be scheduled for that procedure with one of our board-certified Mohs surgeons.
5. Due to the layer-by-layer skin removal, Mohs appointments can last a few hours. We recommend that patients plan on being in the office for three hours, and that they bring a form of entertainment such as a book.
6. After clear margins, the surgeon will discuss the best option for closing the wound, which may include letting it heal on its own, suturing it here in the office, or possibly referring to a plastic surgeon for repair.