Mohs Surgery (cont.)
Where can I have Mohs Surgery, and how long does the surgery take?
Mohs micrographic surgery is usually
performed in an outpatient setting like a doctor's office and under local
anesthetic (lidocaine). Sometimes the procedure may be performed in an
outpatient surgical center with the assistance of an anesthesiologist. Rarely,
it is performed in an inpatient hospital setting.
You are generally in the medical office for several hours (average two to
seven
hours) on the day of your Mohs procedure. Depending on how large or difficult
your skin cancer is, different numbers of levels may be required to achieve
clearance. Mohs requires your patience and your doctor's careful effort and
skill. It is not always possible to predict ahead of time how many hours your
specific procedure will take. Most patients leave their day's schedule open to
allow for adequate time to complete their Mohs.
What kind of physician can perform Mohs surgery? Where can I find a doctor board-certified in Mohs?
Most Mohs surgeons are specially-trained dermatologists.
There are also some plastic surgery, or ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeons
who are also trained to perform Mohs.
There is no current board certification for Mohs surgery.
There are two nationally recognized and respected national Mohs specialty groups
called the American College of Mohs Surgery and the American Society for Mohs
Surgery (ASMS).
Both of these medical groups have specialty training and certification exams
for their members. Members of the American College of Mohs Surgery usually have
completed an additional one to two years of Mohs training. Members of the American
Society for Mohs Surgery are also trained and required to actively participate
in an annual quality control Mohs slide peer review.
Next: Is Mohs only for skin cancer? »
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