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What is Mohs Surgery?
Overview of Mohs Procedure?
What are the advantages of the Mohs Surgery?
What is the cure rate?
Is hospitalization necessary?
Preparing for the surgery...
On the day of the surgery...
Will the surgery leave a scar?
Will I have pain or bruising after the surgery?
Will my insurance cover the cost of the surgery?
Will I need to come back?
How can I protect myself from developing more skin cancer?
Minimize your exposure by:
About Dr. Moy...
What is Mohs Surgery? (back to top)
Mohs surgery is a highly specialized treatment for the total removal of skin cancer with:
• the highest cure rate
• the least scarring possible
This method uses a Complete Microscopic Examination of all the tissues removed including mapping techniques to allow the surgeon to remove all the roots and extensions of the skin cancer.
Overview of the Mohs Procedure? (back to top)
• the skin is injected with a local anesthetic to make it completely numb
• then the visible cancer and a very thin layer surrounding the skin are removed with a scalpel
• followed by carefully mapping the skin tissue and examining it microscopically
If there is still cancer seen under the microscope, another very thin layer of skin is removed from that exact location. This may be repeated as often as necessary to completely remove the cancer.
What are the advantages of the Mohs Surgery? (back to top)
By using these detailed mapping techniques and complete microscopic control, the Mohs surgeon can:
• pinpoint areas involved
with cancer that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. Therefore,
• even the smallest microscopic roots of cancer can be
removed.
The result is:
• the removal of as little normal skin as possible.
• the highest possibility for curing cancer.
What is the cure rate? (back to top)
The percentage of cure is more than 99% for most skin cancers, even when other forms of treatment have failed.
Is hospitalization necessary? (back to top)
No. Mohs surgery is performed in a pleasant outpatient surgical suite and you may return home the same day.
Preparing for the surgery... (back to top)
Continue any medications prescribed by your doctor. However, aspirin is a drug that may prolong bleeding. We ask
that you avoid aspirin (including Anacin, Bufferin, Excedrin, Alka Selzer, Percodan, Motrin, Advil and Naprosyn) for one week
prior to surgery unless your physician insists that you continue on aspirin. If you are taking any blood thinners (Coumadin)you can continue. In
addition, alcohol will also promote bleeding, so avoid alcoholic beverages 24 hours before surgery.
We suggest that you arrange to have a companion drive you to your appointment if your skin cancer is close to the eye or if you feel that you might be tired after waiting up to 4-6 hours.
Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early so that a medical chart can be prepared. For your convenience, patient registration forms are available on our “Contact Us” tab of this website along with maps to our multiple locations.
We suggest that you eat a normal breakfast. Wear comfortable clothing and avoid "pullover" clothing. If operating on the face, please do not wear make-up on or around the area.
On the day of the surgery... (back to top)
Your appointment will be scheduled in the early morning. The area around the skin cancer will be anesthetized. This
will feel like a pinch but will not be painful because we use both refined micro-injectors and a local anesthetic solution
that causes very little stinging.
The surgical procedure takes only 10-15 minutes. However, it takes a minimum of 60 minutes to prepare and microscopically
examine the tissues. Several surgical stages and microscopic examinations may be required, and you will be asked to wait between
stages. Although there is no way to tell before the surgery how many stages will be necessary, most cancers are removed in
3 stages or less.
We would like to make the time you spend with us as pleasant and comfortable as possible. Please bring reading material to occupy your time while waiting for the microscopic slides to be processed and examined. Magazines will be available in the waiting room area.
The most difficult part of the procedure is waiting for the results of the surgery. Since we don't know in advance how much time is necessary to remove the cancer and repair the wound, we ask that you make no other commitments for the entire day that you are scheduled for surgery.
Will the surgery leave a scar? (back to top)
Yes. Any form of treatment will leave a scar. However, because Mohs surgery removes as little normal tissue as possible,
scarring is minimized.
Immediately after the cancer is removed, we may choose:
• to leave the wound to heal by itself
• to repair the wound with stitches or
• to reconstruct the wound with a skin graft or flap
This decision is based on the
safest method that will provide the best cosmetic result. We may advise a touch-up surgery later with the laser or dermabrasion
to improve any visible marks. We will use the same cosmetic surgery techniques we use to erase wrinkle lines and improve any
scar.
Will I have pain or bruising after the surgery? (back to top)
Most patients do not complain of pain.
If there is discomfort, Tylenol or Acetominophen is all that is usually necessary
for relief. Avoid taking medications containing aspirin (see preparing for the surgery below) as they may cause bleeding.
You may have some bruising around the wound especially if the surgery is close to the eye.
Will my insurance cover the cost of the surgery? (back to top)
Most insurance policies cover the cost of Mohs surgery, however you should check with your carrier for exact information
related to their schedule of payments.
On your first visit please bring:
• a copy of your I.D. card, including the Group Number, Policy name,
and correct mailing address of your insurance carrier.
We accept assignment on Medicare.Patients who have not met their plan’s deductible may be responsible to fulfill this financial obligation.
We accept all major credit cards.
Billing questions or payment policies, please contact our billing representative at:
(310) 274-5377 or via email at moyfincherbill@gmail.com
Will I need to come back? (back to top)
Usually, at least one return visit is needed to examine the healing surgical site or to check the stitches. Afterwards, you may return to your referring physician for routine check-ups or we may recommend a return appointment in 8 weeks to determine if a resurfacing procedure is necessary.
A follow up period of 5 years for the treated cancer is essential. After having one skin cancer, statistics show that you have a greater chance of developing a 2nd skin cancer. You should have your skin checked by your referring physician annually, not only to examine the treated skin cancer, but also to check for new skin cancers.
How can I protect myself from developing more skin cancer? (back to top)
Avoid the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. Even if you tan easily, the sun can contribute to skin cancer in 2 ways.
First, the sunlight damages the genes that control cell growth, and second sunlight damages the body's immune system so that early cancers grow unchecked by normal immune defense. Our DNA EGF Renewal Night Renewal cream or DNA EGF Intensive Renewal cream can prevent skin cancers by actually repairing DNA damage. These creams also reduce skin cancers and make the skin look better. Please visit: www.dnaegfrenewal.com
We also recommend the use of Tretinoin cream (Retin A, Renova, Avage, Tretin X) 2x nights per week and using the DNA EGF Renewal products the other 5 nights per week.
Minimize your exposure by: (back to top)
Using sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 30 when you spend any time in the sun. The sunscreen should block both UVA and UVB rays. Neutrogena with helioplex, Anthelios by LaRoche Possay or our DNA EGF Renewal Sunscreen are the products we recommend. Avoid sun exposure during midday hours (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) Do not stay outdoors unprotected even on cloudy days since the ultraviolet light penetrates easily through the clouds.
About Dr. Moy... (back to top)
Dr. Ronald Moy has been performing Mohs micro-graphic and reconstructive surgery for more than 20 years. Each year he and his associate perform more than 4,000 Mohs procedures and related reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. He has completed a 2 year Mohs micro-graphic surgery and Cosmetic plastic surgery fellowship after 4 years of residency. He is leading nationally recognized surgeon for Mohs Micrographic Surgery.
Disclaimer: This site contains information for general purposes only. Moy Dermatology offices can answer only very general questions over the phone or via email. We cannot offer any medical advice or any type of medical evaluation via email or by phone. Please call or email to schedule a professional consultation at one of our offices. Thank you.
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