Achieve Your Natural Best in Santa Rosa, CA
Too much sun exposure can lead to pre-cancerous conditions or skin cancer itself. Spotting skin abnormalities early can make a profound difference in the efficacy of the treatment. Mohs surgery can spot and treat these conditions early on. Dr. Chernoff and his staff at Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery are happy to answer any questions you may have about this procedure.
What Is Mohs Surgery?
This is a very accurate surgical technique used to diagnose and treat skin cancer. During the procedure, Dr. Chernoff progressively removes very thin layers of potentially cancerous skin cells and examines them to determine whether or not they are abnormal. The procedure is continued until only cancer-free skin cells remain. The surgery is also sometimes referred to as Mohs micrographic surgery.
The objective is to remove only as much tissue as needed to treat cancerous or pre-cancerous conditions while doing as little damage to surrounding healthy tissue as possible. Mohs surgery is typically an outpatient procedure and involves the use of only a local anesthetic.
When Is Mohs Surgery Necessary?
Some treatments of cancerous or pre-cancerous skin cells can be non-invasive and utilize lasers to remove any darkened tissue, sun spots, or other suspect cells without the need for invasive surgical procedures. There are several different treatment methods to treat cells in this manner; however, if a section of tissue, spot, sore, or lesion is not treatable using non-surgical or laser removal methods, Mohs surgery is an excellent option.
This procedure provides excellent outcomes and typically results in complete healing of the skin even in areas traditionally difficult to treat (e.g. the tip of the nose and other exposed areas of facial skin).
What Are the Benefits of This Procedure?
Mohs surgery is an improvement on standard skin cancer surgeries called “local excision,” which requires removing all visibly cancerous cells and a small margin of the surrounding healthy tissue. The Mohs procedure allows highly trained surgeons the ability to carefully remove only those tissues in need of excision and ensure the remaining tissue is normal and healthy. This increases the chance of treatment success and reduces the need for additional procedures.
This is a very effective option for certain types of skin cancer. It is a very precise and gradual procedure that removes skin cancer, allowing for microscopic examination of surgical margins surrounding the removed tissue to ensure all abnormal cells have been eliminated.
For More Information
Dr. Chernoff and his specialists at Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery in Santa Rosa are your best bet for treating these kinds of skin conditions comfortably, completely, and successfully. If you believe a skin abnormality is of medical concern, contact us today to schedule your consultation!