Mohs Surgery in Austin, TX Q & A
What is Mohs surgery?
Mohs surgery, also called Mohs micrographic surgery, is one of the most effective treatments for many types of skin cancer. The procedure removes skin cancer in carefully mapped stages while examining the tissue under the microscope during surgery to ensure all cancer cells are removed.
Mohs surgery offers cure rates of up to 99% for certain skin cancers treated early while preserving as much healthy skin as possible. Because of its precision, Mohs surgery is especially useful for skin cancers located on cosmetically sensitive areas such as the face, nose, ears, lips, eyelids, and scalp.
At Pure Dermatology in Austin, Texas, fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon Dr. Chelsey Straight specializes in advanced skin cancer treatment using Mohs surgery.
Which types of skin cancer can Mohs surgery treat?
Mohs surgery treats multiple types of skin cancers, including:
Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the least aggressive type of skin cancer. Most basal cell carcinomas develop in sun-exposed areas of skin, like the face, scalp, neck, and chest. They usually appear as pink, pearly, or ulcerated lesions and rarely spread to other areas.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Also common in areas exposed to the sun, squamous cell carcinomas look like thick raised growths or thickened areas of the skin. Most squamous cell carcinomas aren’t life-threatening but in rare circumstances can be aggressive and spread to other areas of the body.
Why choose Mohs surgery?
Mohs surgery is considered the gold standard treatment for many skin cancers because it provides:
- high cure rates
- complete microscopic margin evaluation
- maximal preservation of healthy tissue
- smaller surgical defects compared to standard excision
- excellent cosmetic outcomes
Because healthy tissue is preserved whenever possible, Mohs surgery is especially valuable for skin cancers on the face and other visible areas.
What happens during Mohs surgery?
Mohs surgery is performed after a biopsy confirms the diagnosis of skin cancer.
On the day of surgery, the area is numbed using local anesthesia. The visible skin cancer and a thin layer of surrounding tissue are then removed.
That tissue is processed and examined under the microscope in-office. If skin cancer cells remain, the surgeon carefully maps their exact location and removes another thin layer only where necessary. This process repeats until all cancer cells have been removed and the margins are clear.
Once the skin cancer has been fully treated, the wound is repaired using the most appropriate technique to optimize healing and cosmetic outcome.
Detailed wound care instructions are provided after surgery.
Who performs Mohs surgery at Pure Dermatology?
Mohs surgery requires specialized fellowship training beyond dermatology residency.
At Pure Dermatology, Dr. Chelsey Straight is a double board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon with advanced expertise in skin cancer surgery and reconstruction.
Our Austin dermatology team provides comprehensive skin cancer care focused on both successful cancer removal and optimal cosmetic healing.
Schedule a Mohs Surgery Consultation in Austin, TX
If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer or advised to consider Mohs surgery, the team at Pure Dermatology is here to help.
Call Pure Dermatology today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about Mohs surgery in Austin, Texas.
