Skin cancer affects millions of people worldwide and is among the most regular form of cancer. It develops on your skin and may spread to other body parts. Different factors may lead to skin cancer, but protecting your skin from ultraviolet rays exposure may help reduce your risk of the disease. Different techniques apply in treating skin cancer, and Chevy Chase Mohs surgery is among the approved treatments. Ali Hendi, a dermatologist surgeon and skin cancer specialist, offers comprehensive care in removing skin cancer. This article will explain what Mohs surgery is all about.
What is Mohs surgery?
It’s a surgical procedure to remove skin cancer. The surgeon removes the exact part with skin cancer and observes it under a microscope to check for cancer cells. He keeps repeating the procedure until he eliminates all the skin cancer cells.
The term Mohs came from the surgeon who discovered this method of removing skin cancer. It provides excellent outcomes for patients with basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas and skin cancers. Mohs surgery also removes melanoma.
You can use Mohs surgery to remove skin cancer cells in various parts of your body, including:
- Eyes
- Ears
- Lips
- Fingers
- Genitals
- Toes
- Nose
The technique targets removing specific areas of cancerous cells while preserving the healthy cells.
What is the procedure like?
Mohs surgery is entirely safe and can turn your health around. Your provider administers anesthesia before the procedure to numb pain and enhances comfort. You may encounter pain after the treatment or some itchiness which you may use over-the-counter medication to relieve.
Mohs surgery is an outpatient treatment allowing you to return home the same day. The procedure occurs in stages, where your surgeon removes the cancerous cells gently and slowly. Waiting between the stages helps your provider get precise results.
The treatment may take a few hours, depending on the size of the area with cancerous cells.
What to consider before deciding on Mohs surgery?
Usually, you can benefit from Mohs surgery if you have skin cancer. But, before you can go ahead with the treatment, your dermatologists conduct a physical exam on your skin and may take a biopsy to confirm the cancerous cells.
If they find cancerous cells in your skin, they refer you to a Mohs surgery specialist. Mohs Surgery provides excellent outcomes for patients where skin cancer came back from a past treatment, is large and has a strange shape, and when located in a sensitive area.
What to expect during Mohs surgery?
Your provider first removes the visible skin cancer part to analyze with a microscope. They place a bandage on the treatment area as you wait between stages.
After removing the skin cancer, they close the area with stitches or skin grafts or may leave it open, depending on what works best for you.
You can prevent skin cancer by having regular skin check-ups and checking for any strange skin changes. Mohs surgery provides successful outcomes for skin cancer by removing areas with cancerous cells while preserving healthy parts. Dr. Hendi is an expert in Mohs surgery and performs the procedure safely and comfortably. Call his office at Ali Hendi, MD and to schedule your consultation.
