More than 9,500 US citizens are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. And while the majority of  skin cancers are less fatal than other cancers, it can grow very quickly, and, left unattended, skin cancer can spread to other parts of your body and turn life-threatening, especially melanoma.

Skin cancer can have a successful cure rate, provided that it’s detected before it manages to spread to your lymph nodes. Additionally, all of the cancerous cells must be removed so that they don’t spread. One of the most effective forms of treating skin cancer is MOHS surgery. This is because MOHS surgery is extremely precise. Read on to find out more about MOHS surgery and how it can help patients with skin cancer.

What Is MOHS Surgery?

MOHS surgery is a procedure that is used for treating skin cancer. During the surgery, Dr. Ariel Ostad will remove thin layers of skin. He will then analyze these removed layers through a microscope for signs of cancer. If cancerous cells remain, then Dr. Ostad will keep removing additional layers until there aren’t any signs of cancer left.

MOHS surgery aims to remove the cancer entirely, without damaging or removing much of the healthy skin around it. Its precision is what makes MOHS surgery so efficient while also offering the best cosmetic outcome of any other cancer treatment.

Benefits of MOHS Surgery

MOHS surgery comes with outstanding benefits, especially for cancers that have a high recurrence risk. Here are the factors that make it so efficient:

1. Highest Cure Rate

The most common types of skin cancer treatments have a cure rate as high as 90%. By comparison, MOHS surgery has a cure rate that goes as high as 99%. This leads to a lower chance of recurrence, as the precision of the treatment ensures total excision of the cancer.

2. Cost-Effectiveness

There are various reasons why MOHS surgery is cost-effective. First, this is an outpatient surgery, which means you will not have to pay for hospitalization. Secondly, its high success rate makes it unlikely that you’ll have to go through cancer treatment again. Not only can it save your nerves and life, but it can also save money in the long run.

3. Reduced Scarring

Other forms of skin cancer treatment remove large patches of skin to ensure that all the cancerous cells are removed. Through this “just to be safe” approach, healthy skin may also be damaged, which increases the chances of significant scarring. However, with MOHS surgery, the incisions are small and precise, and only the affected cells are removed. This means that scarring is less visible. If a scar does form, then you may opt for scar revision once the wound heals.

Recovery After MOHS Surgery

Aside from being one of the most efficient cancer-removal procedures available, MOHS surgery also features a quicker recovery rate than other treatment options. As only the affected skin is removed, the wound will be much smaller, requiring a shorter healing period. The exact recovery time will depend on how big the excised surface was.

You can expect your wounds to heal in as little as 12 months, although more extensive surgeries may require up to 18 months of recovery. 

The Bottom Line

MOHS surgery can be an efficient way to remove cancer without negatively affecting your healthy skin cells. Provided that the skin cancer is caught early, you can cure your cancer in just one day with this procedure. Call us and contact Dr. Ariel Ostad for an initial consultation to see if MOHS surgery is right for you!
For more information on MOHS surgery, you can contact Dr. Ariel Ostad at 212-517-7900. He would be more than happy to answer your questions. Fill out the online contact form, and we’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible.