Four Marvelous Mohs Surgery Benefits You Should Know About

When you – or someone you love – receive a positive skin cancer diagnosis, it can feel as though the world is coming down around you. The overwhelming stress and unknown of whether or not it can be cured s often feel worrying and scary. 

Not to mention, you may have many questions for your doctor, such as what type of skin cancer it is and your best treatment options. Depending on the type of skin cancer, your doctor may recommend Mohs surgery as a treatment option. 

Throughout the dermatology community, Mohs surgery is often referred to as “The Gold Standard” for skin cancer treatment. Mohs surgery has some of the most remarkable cure rates and low recurrence rates, depending on the type of skin cancer treated. 

If you’ve been recommended Mohs surgery for your skin cancer, or would like to learn more about this treatment, take a look at the four marvelous Mohs surgery benefits below to get a better understanding of this procedure. 

Four Marvelous Benefits of Mohs Surgery 

Before we jump into the benefits below, you might be wondering what Mohs surgery actually is. We recommend reading this blog post first to find out more about Mohs surgery, including how our dermatologists perform the procedure at Brentwood Dermatology, what to expect on treatment day, Mohs surgery aftercare, and valuable tips on how to prevent skin cancer. 

1. Highest cure rate of all skin cancer surgeries. 

Mohs surgery is the most effective skin cancer treatment currently available, which is why it’s highly recommended by many dermatologists. 

In fact, compared to other forms of skin cancer treatment, such as radiation or surgical excision, Mohs surgery yields up to a 99% cure rate for skin cancer, including common cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. 

Why is the cure rate for Mohs surgery so high? Well, Mohs surgeons are extensively trained in both removing the tumor and examining it in the lab for cancerous cells. This ensures that they fully remove all of the cancer before sending the patient home. 

2. Preservation of healthy skin. 

One of the most notable Mohs surgery benefits is that the surgeon removes as little healthy skin as possible; they exclusively target and eliminate cancerous cells. This not only means that healthy tissue is optimally preserved, but also that there is often a smaller incision and scar as well. 

Additionally, considering Mohs surgery aims to remove as little healthy skin as possible, this makes it remarkably effective at treating skin cancer in cosmetically sensitive areas, such as the face or ears. 

3. Lower cost than hospital or outpatient facility surgeries. 

In our experience, we find that this is one of the top reasons patients choose Mohs surgery as a skin cancer treatment, as no one likes spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on a hospital procedure. 

Since Mohs surgery is performed in an office, rather than a hospital or outpatient facility, there is no hospital stay needed or the hefty expenses that come along with it. 

4. Local anesthesia is used, rather than general. 

Did you know that many Mohs surgeries performed in a dermatology office only use local anesthesia? 

This ensures that the procedure is safer, as there are several more risks associated with general anesthesia. Furthermore, the patient is more comfortable, as there’s no need to be “put to sleep” or wake up feeling groggy and confused! 

Brentwood Dermatology Treats Skin Cancer with Mohs Surgery 

At Brentwood Dermatology, our experienced board-certified dermatologists are incredibly proud to offer exceptional Mohs surgery to patients with skin cancer. Our dermatologists have extensive training in surgery, pathology, and reconstruction to provide the best surgical and cosmetic outcomes for our patients. 

If you have skin cancer and would like to learn more about Mohs surgery at Brentwood Dermatology, get in touch with our clinic today. Alternatively, if you’ve uncovered a suspicious spot that needs to be looked at by a professional, we’re happy to help! Schedule a skin cancer screening with one of our dermatologists today by calling 615-377-3448. 

At Brentwood Dermatology, our experienced dermatologists are passionate about helping our patients address their skin issues and find a comfortable and effective treatment plan! If you’re interested in finding out how we can help you treat skin cancer or another skin condition, schedule an appointment online or call us today at (615) 455-0046.