Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Skin Cancer
Mohs micrographic surgery is the gold standard for treating many common skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. At the Dermatology & Mohs Surgery Institute, our fellowship-trained surgeons perform Mohs surgery in Peoria, Bloomington, and Charleston, IL, so patients across Central Illinois can get expert skin cancer care close to home.
What Is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery is a precise, step-by-step technique that removes skin cancer one thin layer at a time. It offers the highest cure rate of any skin cancer treatment while removing as little healthy skin as possible, which makes it especially valuable for cancers on the face, ears, nose, scalp, hands, and other areas where preserving tissue matters.
During the procedure, your surgeon removes the visible portion of the tumor along with a small margin of skin. That tissue goes straight to our onsite lab. Once it’s processed, the surgeon examines 100% of the edges under a microscope to pinpoint any cancer cells that remain. If more cancer is found, only that exact area is treated, and the process repeats until the skin is clear.
How Mohs Compares to Other Skin Cancer Treatments
There are five standard ways to treat skin cancer. Two are nonsurgical: cryotherapy (freezing) and radiation therapy. Three are surgical: simple excision, curettage with electrodesiccation (scraping and cauterizing), and Mohs micrographic surgery. Because Mohs checks every edge of the removed tissue on the same day, it gives your surgeon the most complete picture of whether the cancer is fully gone.
What to Expect the Day of Mohs Surgery
Plan to spend most of the day with us, since processing and examining each layer takes time. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that doesn’t pull over your head, and if your surgical site is on your face, please skip makeup that day.
When you arrive, we’ll review and sign your consent form, and photos of the area may be taken for your records. Feel free to ask questions at any point.
Next, we’ll clean the area and numb it with a local anesthetic, similar to the injection you had for your biopsy. Once the area is numb, your surgeon removes the first layer of tissue, bandages the site, and you’ll relax in our waiting area while the tissue is processed in our lab. This usually takes 30 to 60 minutes per layer.
If the surgeon sees any remaining cancer under the microscope, we’ll remove another layer from just that spot. Most skin cancers are fully removed in one to three stages. Once your skin is clear, we’ll discuss the best way to repair the area.
Recovery and Aftercare
You’ll go home with detailed written instructions for caring for your wound. Plan to keep the area bandaged and avoid strenuous activity for about a week. Most patients report minimal discomfort after Mohs surgery, and your aftercare instructions will explain how to stay comfortable as you heal.
It’s normal to feel some tightness, itching, or numbness around the site. Because skin cancers often involve small nerves, it can take several months for normal sensation to return, and in rare cases some numbness may be permanent. During the first few months, the area may also feel thick, swollen, or lumpy and look a little red. Gentle massage starting about one month after surgery can help it heal. Scars continue to soften and fade for 12 to 18 months.
Follow-Up Care After Skin Cancer
After your wound heals, ongoing skin checks are important. Your provider will recommend a follow-up schedule based on the type of skin cancer treated and your personal skin cancer history. Research shows that once you’ve had one skin cancer, you’re more likely to develop another, so regular visits with your dermatologist are the best way to catch anything new early. If you notice a new or changing spot, don’t wait for your next appointment. Call us and we’ll take a look.
Mohs Surgery FAQs
How long does Mohs surgery take?
Most patients are with us for several hours. Each layer takes 30 to 60 minutes to process, and most skin cancers are cleared in one to three stages.
Is Mohs surgery painful?
The area is numbed with a local anesthetic, so you shouldn’t feel pain during the procedure. Most patients report minimal discomfort afterward.
Do I need to stop my medications before Mohs surgery? No. Continue taking your usual medications as normal unless our team tells you otherwise. Just let us know when you schedule if you take a blood thinner.
Will Mohs surgery leave a scar?
Any surgery leaves some scarring, but because Mohs removes as little healthy tissue as possible, scars are often smaller than with other surgical methods. Scars continue to improve for 12 to 18 months.
Ready to schedule your Mohs surgery?
Our team will guide you through every step, from your first call to your follow-up visits.
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