UM SOM: Department of Dermatology

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Mohs Micrographic Surgery FAQ

Overview

Jennifer Cooper, MD is an assistant professor of dermatology and a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon.

Mohs surgery is a method where the skin cancer is removed in multiple layers. The tissue is mapped and carefully marked so that its exact location can be pinpointed in the area it was removed.

The tissue removed is processed by a specially trained technician into microscope slides. These slides are then examined by your surgeon for evidence of any remaining cancer cells. If any cancer cells are present, your Mohs surgeon is able to go back and remove additional layers in areas only where the cancer is persistent. This process is repeated until no cancer cells are present in the specimen.

Mohs surgery is named in honor of the physician who developed the basic technique approximately 40 years ago, Dr. Fredrick Mohs. You may hear is called Mohs surgery, chemosurgery, microscopically controlled surgery or histographic surgery; it is all the same. Since Dr. Mohs first described the procedure, many technical improvements and refinements contributed to making this surgical procedure a safe and highly effective means of treating skin malignancies.

The following addresses some of the most common questions asked by our patients.

Choose a category: Overview What is Mohs Micrographic Surgery? What is Skin Cancer? Treatment What Happens on the Day of Surgery? What Can I Expect After the Surgery is Complete? Complications Who Performs Mohs Surgery? How Do I Prepare for the Day of Surgery? How Can I Prevent More Skin Cancers? Emergency Telephone Numbers