Restore Your Skin Health — and Your Peace of Mind
Too much sun exposure can lead to pre-cancerous conditions or skin cancer itself — but Mohs surgery at Chernoff Plastic Surgery can spot and treat these conditions early on so you stay healthy both physically and mentally.
Spotting skin abnormalities early can make a profound difference in the efficacy of the treatment. 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.
You can trust your skin cancer procedure to Dr. Chernoff, a triple board-certified facial and reconstructive plastic surgeon. He is certified by The American Board of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The American Board of Facial, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
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 Mohs Surgery at Chernoff Plastic Surgery in Santa Rosa?
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 a highly trained surgeon like Dr. Chernoff 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.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Mohs Surgery?
Good candidates for Mohs surgery are patients with skin cancers in sensitive areas where as much healthy tissue needs to be preserved as possible.
These areas may include the face, head, neck, fingers, toes, or genitals. Patients who have skin cancers that are in high-risk areas (such as the eyelids, lips, or ears) or that are large, growing rapidly, or have aggressively returned after earlier treatments — as well as skin cancers with undefined or unclear edges — may also benefit from Mohs surgery.
Elderly patients or patients who are very sick or immunocompromised may benefit from Mohs surgery, which uses local instead of general anesthesia, the latter of which can jeopardize the immune systems of those patients.
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.
Preparing for Mohs Surgery
Prior to any surgical procedure, Dr. Chernoff recommends that all our patients read our “Patient Guide for Plastic Surgery”. The guide explains important points that all patients should think about as they are considering a procedure.
What Results Can You Expect After Your Mohs Surgery?
The main objective of Mohs surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as deeply as possible and in the most minimally invasive way possible. This minimally invasive procedure can successfully lower the possibility of recurrence while minimizing the appearance of scarring and other post-surgery skin conditions.
Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery patients who travel to our Santa Rosa office for their Mohs surgery can choose to stay in our Guest House after their procedure. Our staff will advise you with the details.
Why Dr. Greg Chernoff for Your Mohs Surgery?
When considering cosmetic surgery, finding the right surgeon can mean the difference between great results and less-than-optimal results. Board certification, advanced training, and skills, along with years of experience are important factors to consider when selecting your facial cosmetic surgeon. You only have one face, and you want to be sure to select the “best” plastic surgeon for your procedure.
At Dr. Chernoff’s Facial Center of Excellence, you can be reassured that he has the appropriate surgical certifications, extensive knowledge, experience, surgical skill, and aesthetic vision. Dr. Chernoff is a renowned aesthetic surgeon and educator.
*Results may vary and are not guaranteed. Contact Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery to see if you are a candidate.