An Introduction To The MOHS Micrographic Procedure For Patients
The MOHS micrographic procedure surgery is one of the most established options available for treating certain forms of skin cancer. Doctors have used it for a long time to treat nonmelanoma cancers that have responded poorly or not at all to other solutions. Usually, the issue involves a basal or squamous carcinoma that appears as a wart-like bump on the surface. However, it appears as a white bump rather than a dark mark.
Doctors often elect to use the MOHS micrographic procedure to treat high-visibility parts of a person's skin, such as the face, neck, arms, and hands. The procedure is minimally invasive, and doctors handle nearly all cases on an outpatient basis.
How the Procedure Works
A practitioner will perform tests to verify that the treatment is appropriate. Many practices now have on-site testing capabilities so you may be able to do the test and undergo the MOHS micrographic procedure on the same day.
While the procedure causes minimal pain for most patients, the doctor will apply a local anesthetic to the affected skin area. They will then mark a target area that's a bit wider than the affected patch of skin. Using a scalpel, the doctor will remove the marked patch.
What Is Recovery Like?
Most patients will get by with bandages and topical antibiotics. Some people may experience some redness and swelling, but your doctor can call in a prescription for an anti-inflammatory drug. The skin should start healing within days. If it doesn't, then you can schedule a follow-up visit. Your doctor will likely want to do at least one exam to make sure they got all of the cancer and that everything is healing well, anyhow.
Is the MOHS Micrographic Procedure Necessary?
Doctors generally consider the surgery to be one of the better risk-reward procedures for treating specific skin cancers. It has a high success rate, and the odds of scarring are low. Although there is a low risk that these kinds of cancers will metastasize, most doctors don't like to let them go. The patches will be harder to remove in the future if they continue to grow. Similarly, many patients find the patches visibly upsetting and will ask for surgery for aesthetic reasons.
Could the Cancer Return?
Yes, there is a risk that cancer will come back at or near the same spot. Likewise, people who've developed skin cancers once are at heightened risk of developing them again. However, the MOHS micrographic procedure surgery can treat most returning cancer, too.