Reynolds Crossing Office (formerly Patterson Office)
6946 Forest Avenue Suite 200
Richmond, Virginia 23230
Colonial Heights Office
280 Charles H. Dimmock Parkway, Suite 4
Colonial Heights, VA 23834
Midlothian Office
The Winchester Building 10800 Midlothian Turnpike, Suite 309
Richmond, VA 23235
Mohs Surgery Center
The Winchester Building 10800 Midlothian Turnpike, Suite 310
Richmond, VA 23235
Nuckols Road Office
201 Concourse Boulevard, Suite 110
Glen Allen, VA 23059
Hanover Office
7498 Right Flank Road
Mechanicsville, Virginia 23116
Mohs Micrographic Surgery is a highly effective technique used to treat skin cancer. Invented by Frederic Mohs in the 1930s at the University of Wisconsin, this treatment allows Mohs surgeons to remove cancerous areas while preserving the maximum amount of healthy tissue possible. Only certain types of skin cancers and locations on the body are eligible for Mohs surgery. Our dermatologists will work with you to determine if your skin cancer qualifies.
A Mohs surgeon is uniquely trained as a cancer surgeon, pathologist, and reconstructive surgeon. The Mohs surgery process involves removing the thinnest visible layer of cancerous tissue, one at a time. After the layer is removed, the removed skin is analyzed in a lab to check for any remaining cancer cells. This process is repeated until no more cancerous areas are detected.
The procedure is performed entirely under local anesthesia. You should budget several hours of your time for Mohs surgery in case multiple rounds need to be completed.
The largest benefit of the Mohs process is that it analyzes 100 percent of the skin under the microscope, resulting in the more accurate analysis. Due to the careful examination involved, the skin cancer treatment rate for Mohs surgery is 98 percent. Immediate surgical reconstruction can be performed after confirming that 100 percent of the cancerous cells have been removed.
Because the surgery process involves removing thin layers of cancerous skin one at a time, the amount of healthy tissue loss is minimized. The aesthetic outcome of Mohs surgery is more optimized compared to other skin cancer treatments due to Mohs being so precise.
The cure rate of Mohs surgery is exceptionally high when compared to other skin cancer surgery options. To explore more options for skin cancer surgery, visit our surgical dermatology page.
