Surgery:
Outpatient skin surgeries using the latest techniques and materials are part of our daily practice at Lee’s Summit Dermatology Associates.  Surgery can refer to small biopsies taken to identify a type of rash or skin cancer. At other times, larger lesions such as skin cancer or troublesome moles are removed for medical or cosmetic reasons. 

Mohs micrographic surgery:
Mohs micrographic surgery was named after Dr. Frederick Mohs, a Mayo Clinic surgeon who pioneered this procedure. With Mohs micrographic surgery, the skin cancer is removed in the office under local injected anesthesia. Microscopic sections are prepared and the surgeon examines them to determine if all the cancer cells have been removed.  If not, additional layers are taken until the cancer is completely excised. This spares the amount of tissue that must be removed since all the edges of the specimen are carefully studied. This method has a high cure rate, but isn’t necessary for all skin cancers. Mohs micrographic surgery is used to completely remove recurrent skin cancers, larger skin cancers, and for skin cancers that might act more aggressively due to location.  After the skin cancer has been removed using this method, it may be allowed to heal naturally or reconstructive surgery may be performed.