If you have skin cancer, you want your lesion removed as soon as possible. Robert Fischer, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Southside Dermatology and Skin Cancer Surgery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a fellowship-trained expert in a highly specialized, in-office procedure called Mohs surgery that’s highly curative for both basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). When you notice a new or growing mole or lesion, contact Southside Dermatology and Skin Cancer Surgery right away for evaluation and treatment. Use the online form to book an appointment or call Dr. Fischer’s friendly staff.
Mohs Surgery in Tulsa, Muskogee, & Broken Arrow, OK
What is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery is a procedure used to treat skin cancer. This surgery involves cutting away thin layers of skin. Each thin layer is looked at closely for signs of cancer. The process keeps going until there are no signs of cancer.
The goal of Mohs surgery is to remove all of the skin cancer without hurting the healthy skin around it. Mohs surgery allows the surgeon to be sure that all the cancer is gone. This makes it more likely that the cancer is cured. It reduces the need for other treatments or more surgery.
During Mohs surgery, medicine to numb the area is usually given so that you don't feel pain. Most people can go home after surgery and don't need to stay in a hospital.
Mohs surgery is also called Mohs micrographic surgery.
You can have Mohs surgery to remove skin cancer anywhere on your body, including your:
- Eyes
- Nose
- Lips
- Ears
- Scalp
- Fingers
- Toes
- Genitals
Mohs surgery is considered the gold-standard procedure for treating many common skin cancers.
What happens during Mohs Surgery?
During Mohs surgery at Southside Dermatology and Skin Cancer Surgery , Dr. Fischer removes your lesion and surrounding skin, one thin layer at a time. Each time a layer is removed, he examines it underneath a microscope, checking for cancerous cells. In other words, Dr. Fischer acts as both surgeon and pathologist during your procedure.
The surgery continues until Dr. Fischer removes a layer that contains no cancer cells at all. Mohs surgery spares as much healthy skin as possible and leaves just a slight scar.
What are some advantages of Mohs Surgery?
The greatest advantage of Mohs surgery is its high cure rate. The fact that it can be done in the office while you wait makes it cost-effective, too. You can get Mohs surgery for small or large lesions, including those with indistinct edges.
How do I know if I need Mohs Surgery?
During your annual skin cancer screening, Dr. Fischer examines your moles and lesions to determine if any are cancerous. If skin cancer is found, he may recommend Mohs surgery.
In between appointments, you should regularly examine your body to detect moles that have one or more of the ABCDE signs that could indicate cancer:
A — asymmetry
B — borders that are ragged, scalloped, notched, or irregular
C — color that varies or is multicolored
D — diameter greater than a pencil eraser
E — evolving (growing, changing color)
Contact Southside Dermatology and Skin Cancer Surgery right away if the ABCDE signs are present in a lesion or mole. Also notify us if your moles bleed or ooze, itch, or are painful, or if you have a lesion or sore that doesn’t heal.
Stay safe by getting screened for skin cancer and removing cancerous lesions with Mohs Surgery at Southside Dermatology and Skin Cancer Surgery. You can reach us at our Tulsa office location at (918) 760-0700, our Muskogee office location at
(918) 840-5276, or our Broken Arrow, OK location at (918) 770-4599 to schedule an appointment.
Cited from the Mayo Clinic & the American Academy of Dermatology