Mohs Surgery near Baton Rouge

Name: Benson Dermatology
Address: 180 N 5th St, Ponchatoula, LA, 70454, US
Telephone: (985) 370-7546

Our board-certified dermatologists utilize Mohs surgery as a skin cancer treatment. The objective is to remove as much cancer tissue as possible while saving the healthy skin around it. After each layer of skin is surgically removed, it is examined under a microscopic lens. This is done layer-by-layer until the cancer is gone, eliminating the need for further surgical treatments. When you leave the office, you know the roots of the cancer are gone without having to wait for a pathology analysis.

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The History of Mohs Surgery

Named after the inventor of the procedure, Frederick Mohs, the surgery became a specialized cancer treatment in the 1930s.

Mohs surgery is universally considered the gold standard of treatment for squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, although it can be used to treat a wide variety of skin cancers in general.

Should I Have Mohs Surgery?

There are four main reasons why skin cancer patients near Baton Rouge receive this surgery:

1) The cancerous tissue area is large and fast-growing.

2) The cancer is localized on the body where it’s important to keep as much skin as possible, such as cosmetically important areas including the face.

3) The skin cancer is likely to return from another treatment.

4) The cancerous tissue has uneven edges.

How Mohs Surgery Is Performed?

At Benson Dermatology, our board-certified, fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon performs Mohs surgery in a specially-equipped surgery room with associated lab so that your skin tissue can be quickly analyzed. The surgery typically lasts between 2 and 4 hours on average, but the length will be determined by individual needs for successful treatment.

After the surgical area has been sterilized, the area will be marked and numbed. Using a scalpel or similar medical instrument, your visible cancer will be removed, and a temporary bandage is placed onto the skin. The tissue will be examined under a microscope to see if there’s cancer present in the lower layers. If so, more skin will be removed. This process is repeated until there is no cancer shown under the microscope. The longest segment is the analysis of the tissue in order to properly determine any presence of cancerous cells.

What to Do After Mohs Surgery

Patients near Baton Rouge who have undergone Mohs surgery will be given post-treatment instructions. The surgeon will typically choose one of the following options to finish the procedure:

stitch the wound closed
let the incision heal on its own
use a flap of skin nearby to fold over the incision
use a skin graft to cover the area
temporarily close the area and perform reconstruction later

Follow up with your dermatologist to make sure that your recovery is going well. You may have some bleeding, soreness, swelling, or other discomforts for a short time after the surgery.

Can Skin Cancer Removed with Mohs Surgery Come Back?

Mohs surgery near Baton Rouge has the highest resolution rates for squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas at 99%, with a 95% success rate for recurrent cancer. Schedule regular follow ups with your dermatologist for spot checks to determine any new cancer growths. Generally twice a year is recommended, but your dermatologist will work with you to set an appropriate schedule.