Mohs Surgery vs. Traditional Skin Cancer Removal: Which Is Best?

Parks Dermatology Center doctors can help if you have a skin cancer diagnosis. Our team has several treatment options depending on the skin cancer type and severity.

What Is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs Surgery in Ormond Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Palm Coast, Orange City, FL, incorporates a microscope during the precise removal of thin layers of skin. Your surgeon examines each layer under the microscope until all signs of cancerous tissue are gone. Because it's so precise in removing existing cancer, Mohs surgery’s success rate is as high as 99 percent. This technique helps patients keep as much healthy tissue as possible. 

What Are Some Traditional Skin Cancer Removal Options?

If your dermatologist determines Mohs surgery isn't right for you, there are other treatments available, such as cryosurgery that freezes the cancerous tumor using liquid nitrogen. It's often effective for pre-cancerous lesions. Laser surgery can also cut out the tumor with minimal bleeding.

Then, there is low dose superficial radiotherapy (SRT), which is non-invasive and only penetrates the skin’s surface. Patients may experience temporary redness, but no scarring. 

In some cases, your doctor may have to use a simple or wide excision to cut out the tumor which can involve taking some healthy tissue and closing the wound with stitches. If your cancer is still very superficial. They may be able to shave it off the skin surface using a thin blade.

Levulan Photodynamic Therapy is for moderate Actinic Keratoses. It’s another non-invasive method that doesn’t involve cutting or stitching. Your dermatologist will apply a photosensitizing agent to the skin, wait for it to absorb, and use a blue light to activate it.

Which Option Is Best?

Your doctor will recommend treatments based on your specific condition. Mohs surgery can be a go-to option for highly visible or sensitive areas like the face, mouth, hands, feet, ears, nose, or genitals. If your tumor has unclear borders, Mohs surgery is an ideal option, as a single incision may be difficult to successfully remove it.

Find the Right Dermatologist Near You Today

If you have skin cancer in Ormond Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Palm Coast, Orange City, FL, you have many surgical options, including Mohs surgery and other traditional methods. To learn more, call Parks Dermatology Center doctors at (386) 677-9044.