Dermatological and Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Mohs Surgery & Surgical Dermatology

At Catalina Dermatology, traditional surgical treatment is available for a variety of skin conditions, including removal of skin cancers, cysts, and moles. In addition, Catalina Dermatology offers the most advanced treatment for skin cancer, Mohs micrographic surgery.

Overview of Mohs Surgery

Mohs micrographic surgery is a state-of-the-art procedure offering the best approach for curing skin cancer. Physicians who are trained in the Mohs technique are a unique breed in that they serve as surgeon, pathologist, and reconstructive surgeon simultaneously.

The Mohs procedure has been in existence for over seventy years. It was developed in the 1930s by Dr. Frederic Mohs, but has since been refined into the most advanced, precise, and effective treatment for a variety of skin cancer types, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The Mohs surgeon is trained and educated to identify and remove an entire tumor while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact and unharmed. This means that the procedure allows for both a medical and aesthetic result that is favorable and optimal. For that reason, Mohs surgery is extremely effective for skin cancers that are located in cosmetically sensitive areas (for example, around the ears, nose, lips, and scalp), recurrent skin cancers, or skin cancers that are large and difficult to treat.

The Mohs procedure involves surgically removing skin cancer in a layer by layer manner and examining the specimen under a microscope to determine when the tissue around the tumor is cancer-free (called clear margins). Mohs offer up to a 99% cure rate for a skin cancer that has not been treated before, and up to a 94% cure rate for a skin cancer that has recurred after previous treatment.

The American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery currently recognizes more than 50 training centers where qualified applicants receive comprehensive training in Mohs micrographic surgery. The minimum training period is one year. During this year, the dermatologist acquires extensive experience in all aspects of Mohs surgery, pathology and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Mann is a fellowship trained Mohs surgeon who performs Mohs surgery at Catalina Dermatology’s main office on Tanque Verde Road.

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