As a visible cancer, skin cancer affects millions of Americans each year. Conveniently located in New York, NY, Dr. Ariel Ostad offers screenings, diagnosis, and skin cancer treatment options including Mohs micrographic surgery.

What is Mohs surgery?

Developed in 1938 by general surgeon Frederic E. Mohs, Mohs surgery is a microscopically controlled procedure used to treat skin cancer. With this specialized procedure, individual layers of tissue are removed and examined separately. Each layer is examined to search for cancer cells. If found, the next layer is removed. The process continues until no cancer cells are detected. The benefit of this treatment is that only the necessary tissue is removed. The surgeon does not have to guess how much tissue to excise.

Mohs surgery is used to treat skin cancer on areas where tissue preservation is important such as on the hands, feet, face, or genitals. This procedure has a high cure rate making it an effective skin cancer treatment.

The Mohs surgery process

Mohs micrographic surgery involves four steps.

• Surgical removal
• Mapping of the tissue as well as freezing, cutting, and staining the tissue
• Microscopic analysis
• Possible reconstruction of the area

Performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia, Dr. Ostad completes the procedure in our AAAASF (American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities) certified surgical facility. A small scalpel removes the visible cancer with minimal margins. General excisions involve removing a 4 to 6mm margin of tissue. Mohs margins are 1 to 1.5mm so less excess tissue is removed. Each layer of tissue is excised and examined. The surgeon acts as the pathologist examining the tissue. The first three steps are repeated until the margins are clear. At that point, closure and possible reconstruction are performed.

Dr. Ostad is a top New York Mohs surgeon. He completed a Mohs fellowship training at UCLA. To learn more about skin cancer or your treatment options, schedule your appointment with Dr. Ostad today. (646)798-9494