Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery

Preventing skin cancer is one of Apex Dermatology’s biggest missions. We are passionate about educating people on early skin cancer detection, sun protection, and the importance of taking good care of your body’s largest organ every single day. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than 100,000 cases diagnosed annually. Globally, skin cancer has increased 310% over the past 20 years! Fortunately, the survival rate for skin cancers caught and treated early is nearly 99%. One of the reasons skin cancer is such a survivable type of cancer if caught early is Mohs skin cancer surgery. This advanced skin cancer treatment is designed to excise all cancerous tissue while leaving behind as much healthy skin as possible.

We offer a full spectrum of skin care services at our 14 Apex Skin locations across Northeast Ohio, but skin cancer prevention is our most urgent service. We aim to help you feel confident in your healthy skin by giving you the skin care knowledge, products, and treatment you need, from cosmetic treatments to medical dermatology, including the precise, effective Mohs procedure skin cancer patients can rely on to help them overcome what can be a very stressful and shocking diagnosis.

Mohs skin cancer surgery is the gold standard of skin cancer surgeries, producing the highest survivability rates while also preserving healthy skin for smaller post-operative scars. Our skilled skin cancer surgeons have completed more than 15,000 skin cancer surgeries in their careers. So, if you see a suspicious spot, please do not hesitate to contact us immediately for a same-day SPOT Check, because early diagnosis and treatment are the keys to surviving a skin cancer diagnosis. Even if you don’t see a suspicious spot, remember that you may not be seeing all of your skin very clearly (your back, for example). This is why you should schedule a full-body skin cancer screening with us once a year as well.

During a Mohs micrographic surgery, your dermatologist slices away thin layers of skin in the affected area and then examines each layer under a microscope to detect signs of cancer. It can be used for fairly large skin cancer tumors. The surgeon continues removing thin slices until reaching a layer without any signs of cancer. Mohs skin cancer surgery has four major benefits for patients:

The medical community considers Mohs surgery the most effective way to remove and treat the two most common forms of skin cancer: basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas.

Of course, Mohs skin cancer surgery is only one of several skin cancer removal procedures. While Mohs is the gold standard for many patients, every patient with skin cancer has unique needs and healing journeys, especially depending on how advanced the skin cancer is. It bears repeating over and over again: the earlier we catch the skin cancer, the higher the chance of total recovery is. At Apex Dermatology, our skilled, compassionate team of skin cancer experts will use the skin cancer treatment (or combination of treatments) suited to give you the best outcome in terms of survival while minimizing scars. Some of these other skin cancer removal techniques include:

Cryosurgery, otherwise known as “freezing therapy” employs cold argon gas or liquid nitrogen to freeze off and kill cancerous tissues while leaving healthy tissue untouched. It is typically used on non-melanoma spots, as well as non-cancerous spots, either for cosmetic reasons or for preventing skin cancer. It is a less invasive procedure than Mohs surgery, but sometimes multiple treatments are necessary to remove all the concerning tissue.

In an “ED&C” procedure, your dermatologist uses a small instrument called a curette to scrape out tumor tissue while also applying an electric current to kill any remaining cancerous cells. We typically use this procedure on small tumors on the hands, feet, neck, and face, and it can cause some scarring.

You can apply a prescribed immunotherapy cancer treatment cream at home if the cancerous spot is a superficial basal cell carcinoma. It’s the least invasive treatment and lasts for a few weeks. It stimulates your body’s immune system to destroy cancerous tissue.

If the tumor is severe, persistent, or in a location difficult to treat by other means, you may need radiation therapy.

Your doctor surgically removes the tumor and closes the wound with stitches.

Naturally, your dermatologist will fully examine your spots and medical history to determine which procedure will be the most effective and least scarring skin cancer removal procedure for you. While the Mohs skin cancer surgery is highly effective for many people, the location, size, depth, and severity of the skin cancer may preclude its use. Getting all of the cancer out and preventing its reemergence are our primary goals with any skin cancer removal technique. Our dermatologists across Northeast Ohio, including Dr. Jennifer Bahner, have performed thousands of these procedures and saved thousands of lives from skin cancer.

Dr. Jennifer Bahner has been saving lives from skin cancer through Mohs surgery and other techniques for many years. We asked her to share her advice and knowledge about the procedure and skin cancer prevention today:

“Mohs micrographic surgery is unique among cancer treatments in that it allows for complete evaluation of the tumor margin under a microscope and hence offers a higher cure rate,” explains Bahner. “As the surgeon, MMS is very satisfying, because a person walks in with a diagnosed malignancy and after they visit with me, they are cancer-free.”

“MMS is primarily used to treat basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, the two most common types of skin cancer, which affect more than 3 million Americans annually,” says Bahner.

Compared with other methods of skin cancer removal, it is highly effective at achieving complete removal of those types of skin cancer while doing as little damage to healthy surrounding tissues as possible. This level of precision enables us to remove the cancer with as little scarring as possible left over.

“When you come in for Mohs surgery, you can expect to be in the clinic for at least an hour, often several hours,” advises Bahner. “It is an outpatient surgery using local anesthesia, so you should eat breakfast and take your regular daily medications beforehand.”

“Once the tissue specimen is removed—in a similar fashion to your previous biopsy—a temporary bandage is put in place, and you wait in the exam room while our lab technicians process the tissue so that the surgeon can examine the entire outside and deep margins under the microscope while you wait. If the skin cancer still involves the margin(s), the tumor is mapped out so that we know exactly where to remove the remaining tissue,” she explains.

“This process is repeated until the margins are clear of the skin cancer. At that point, your surgeon will discuss with you whether and how to repair the site, either allowing it to heal on its own or to repair it with sutures.”

Dr. Bahner says that early skin cancer detection saves lives. Skin cancer, when caught early, has a near 99% survivability rate after 5 years. She cannot stress enough how early detection is the key to survival from skin cancer. This is where same-day SPOT checks and annual full-body skin cancer screenings play a vital role. She urges people not to delay even for one day if they notice a spot that has changed at all. If you have a mole or spot on your skin that has changed based on any of the ABCDEs below, schedule a SPOT check now:

Any one or more of these criteria signal the need to schedule a same-day SPOT check.

“Keep an eye out for new, changing, nonhealing, or asymmetric lesions on your skin, and seek care from a dermatologist should you develop such a spot,” urges Dr. Bahner. “We recommend full body skin cancer examinations to help familiarize you with your “spots,” to visualize areas of your skin that you cannot see, and so that if you develop a skin cancer, it is detected as early as possible.”

In addition to early detection, prevention is key. Dr. Bahner urges people to be “sun smart”.

“While Mohs surgery is a wonderful treatment with a high cure rate, it is best to prevent skin cancer in the first place,” she says. “To this end, I recommend applying sunscreen every single day. (Yes, even in Northeast Ohio!) The sunscreen must be broad spectrum, with an SPF of at least 30. Avoid the midday sun, when the UV index is highest, and seek shade when outdoors. Sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and ultraviolet protective clothing also go a long way to protect us from ultraviolet radiation.”

Take good care of your skin and seek professional care from your Apex Skin dermatologist whenever a skincare concern arises. Your skin is an important, protective barrier that breathes and requires just as much care for your overall health as any other organ of your body. Be vigilant about sunscreen and sun protection, alert us about any suspicious spots, and schedule your annual full-body skin cancer screening. If you do receive a skin cancer diagnosis, we can help with Mohs skin cancer surgery and a host of other life-saving treatments that will be tailored to your exact needs.

Dr. Jennifer Bahner grew up in Hudson, Ohio before moving with her parents and three brothers to Brighton, Michigan when she was in high school. She studied Movement Science in the Division of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and completed her pre-medical studies, graduating with high distinction. Dr. Bahner deferred medical school for one year to live in Winter Park, Colorado, where she worked as a backpacking trip leader and children’s ski instructor. She returned to the Midwest to matriculate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, as the recipient of an academic fellowship. She found her calling in dermatology during her third year of medical school.