Address:
415 Orange St. Redlands, CA 92374
Second Office at
15366 11th St., Suite K, Victorville, CA 92395
Surgical Dermatology Services
Mohs surgery is a tissue-sparing cancer treatment technique with very high success rates. Dr. Steven E. Hodgkin is trained in Mohs surgery techniques for state-of-the-art treatment and optimal outcomes in patients. Dr. Hodgkin offers this procedure at both the Victorville and Redlands, CA locations.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery
Mohs micrographic surgery is a specialized, highly effective technique for the removal of skin cancer. The procedure was developed in the 1930s by Dr. Frederic Mohs at the University of Wisconsin and is now practiced throughout the world. Mohs surgery differs from other skin cancer treatments in that it permits the immediate and complete microscopic examination of the removed cancerous tissue, so that all "roots" and extensions of the cancer can be eliminated. Due to the methodical manner in which tissue is removed and examined, Mohs surgery has been recognized as the skin cancer treatment with the highest reported cure rate.
How is Mohs surgery performed?
Prior to the procedure, the treatment area will be thoroughly cleansed and a drape may be used to isolate it from the surrounding tissue. A local anesthetic will be injected around the treatment area to thoroughly numb it. No general anesthesia is required. Once the lesion is removed, it’s immediately evaluated under a microscope to determine if the edges or margins of the excised tissue are clear of cancer cells. If the margins are free of cancerous tissue, that’s an indication that all of the cancer cells have been removed, and the surgical site can be closed with sutures. When cancer cells are present on one or more margins, additional tissue will be removed in those areas and that tissue will be re-evaluated. The process of excision followed by microscopic evaluation continues until all margins are clear, at which point the incision site will be closed using very small sutures and a dressing will be applied. Mohs surgery can be performed as an outpatient procedure and patients will be discharged soon after their procedure is completed.
Advantages of the Mohs Surgical Procedure:
Some skin cancers can be deceptively large - far more extensive under the skin than they appear to be from the surface. These cancers may have "roots" in the skin, or along blood vessels, nerves, or cartilage. Skin cancers that have recurred following previous treatment may send out extensions deep under the scar tissue that has formed at the site. Mohs surgery is specifically designed to remove these cancers by tracking and removing these cancerous "roots." For this reason, prior to Mohs surgery, it is impossible to predict precisely how much skin will have to be removed, however the Mohs surgery removes only the cancerous tissue, while the normal tissue is spared.
Healing Process:
As with all forms of surgery, a scar will remain after the skin cancer is removed and the surgical area has completely healed. Mohs micrographic surgery, however, will leave one of the smallest possible surgical defects and resultant scars. Often, wounds allowed to heal on their own result in scars that are barely noticeable. Even following extensive surgery, results are frequently quite acceptable. In addition, scars do have the ability, through the body's own natural healing properties, to remodel and improve in appearance for a six to twelve month period. There are also many other techniques available for enhancement of the surgical area following skin cancer surgery.
