Remove the Visible Cancer
A thin layer of tissue is carefully removed.
Skin Cancer Care
Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery in Fort Lauderdale
Mohs surgery removes skin cancer in stages, with tissue examined during the procedure. Understand why it may be recommended and what to expect before surgery, on the day, and during healing.
Removal
In Stages
Thin layers are removed and examined.
Microscopic
Margin Checks
The surgeon maps areas needing more treatment.
Preserve
Healthy Tissue
Precise removal helps limit tissue loss.
Repair
& Recovery
A wound-care plan for your particular repair.
Careful removal. Tissue checked as you go.
Mohs surgery combines skin cancer removal with microscopic examination of the tissue edges. If cancer remains, the surgeon uses a map to remove another thin layer from the affected area. This helps preserve healthy tissue while treating the cancer.
It is often used for selected basal and squamous cell cancers in sensitive locations, recurrent cancers, or tumors with higher-risk features. Your biopsy and examination determine whether it is appropriate for you.
Schedule Your Visit
What Is Mohs Micrographic Surgery?
Mohs surgery is a specialized technique used to remove certain skin cancers while carefully examining the edges of the removed tissue.
The procedure is performed in stages, allowing the physician to continue removing tissue only where cancer cells remain. This approach can help preserve as much healthy surrounding tissue as possible.
Examine the Tissue
The margins are evaluated under a microscope.
Identify Any Remaining Cancer
If cancer cells remain, their exact location is identified.
Continue Only Where Needed
Additional tissue is removed only from areas where cancer remains.
How Mohs Surgery Works
Remove a thin layer
After the area is numbed, the surgeon removes the visible cancer and a thin layer of surrounding tissue. A temporary dressing protects the site while the tissue is processed.
You usually remain awake. Local anesthesia helps keep the treatment area comfortable.
Map and examine
The tissue is prepared for microscopic review, and its location is recorded on a map. The surgeon checks the edges for remaining cancer cells.
If cancer is found, another layer is removed from the mapped area. The process repeats until the examined margins are clear.
Plan repair and healing
Once removal is complete, the surgeon assesses the wound and discusses how it should heal. Options include stitches, a flap, a graft, or natural healing.
Your instructions cover dressings, activity, and follow-up. The repair and recovery plan depend on the size and location of the wound.
The process graphics are simplified educational illustrations. The number of stages, wound size, and repair needs vary for each patient.
Your Mohs Care, Step by Step
Select a stage to understand preparation, surgery, and recovery.
Prepare with your surgical team
Your preparation instructions are specific to your procedure and health history.
Discuss Your Care- Confirm the biopsy site and ensure the pathology report is available.
- Share prescriptions, blood thinners, supplements, allergies, and relevant medical conditions.
- Keep the day available and ask about meals, transportation, and what to bring.
Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own. Follow the instructions agreed on by your surgical team and prescribing clinician.
Removal, checking, and waiting between stages
Local anesthesia numbs the area. Tissue removal is followed by laboratory processing and examination.
Discuss Your Care- Expect waiting time while each layer is prepared and examined.
- More tissue is removed only where the mapped findings indicate it is needed.
- Wound management is discussed after the examined margins are clear.
Several hours may be needed, and some appointments take longer. The exact duration cannot be known in advance.
Care for the wound and return for checks
Repair is chosen for your particular wound, skin, and medical needs.
Discuss Your Care- Possible approaches include stitches, a local flap, a skin graft, or healing naturally.
- Follow the office’s instructions for dressings and limits on activity.
- Attend recommended wound checks and ongoing skin examinations.
Some tenderness or swelling can occur. Contact the team about bleeding that does not stop as instructed, worsening pain, or signs of infection.
Your care is individualized. Suitability and availability are discussed at your visit; some treatments may require coordinated specialist care.
What to Expect From Mohs Surgery
Review your diagnosis
We review the pathology report, confirm the treatment site, and explain why Mohs may be recommended. This is a chance to discuss your concerns and questions.
Receive personal instructions
The team reviews medication and preparation questions, expected waiting time, and transportation needs. Follow the instructions provided for your surgery.
Know the recovery plan
After removal, the surgeon explains wound management and home care. Follow-up checks assess healing, and regular skin examinations remain important.
What Our Patients Are Saying
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be awake, and will it hurt?
Mohs is usually performed with local anesthesia while you are awake. The numbing injection may briefly sting. You may feel pressure during treatment; tell the team if you feel pain so the area can be reassessed and additional anesthesia considered.
How long should I allow for surgery?
Keep the day available. Tissue processing and additional stages take time, and wound repair adds to the appointment. Many procedures take several hours, but the exact duration varies. Your team explains what to bring and how to prepare.
What if the biopsy spot looks healed?
Healing at the surface does not prove that all cancer cells were removed. Cells can remain beneath or around the biopsy site. Keep the recommended appointment and make sure the team has the pathology report and the correct site information.
Should I stop my blood thinner or other medication?
Do not stop prescribed medicines on your own. Give the team a complete list of prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, and supplements. Follow the personalized instructions agreed on by your surgical team and the clinician who prescribed the medicine.
Will Mohs leave a scar?
Yes. Mohs preserves as much healthy tissue as possible, but surgery leaves a wound and a scar. Repair options depend on the wound. The scar changes as it heals, and its final appearance takes time; outcomes vary between patients.
When can I return to exercise and normal activities?
Activity restrictions depend on the wound location and repair. Follow the team’s written instructions for lifting, exercise, work, and dressing care rather than a fixed timeline. Ask when to return for a wound check or stitch removal, if needed.
Get clear answers about Mohs surgery.
If Mohs has been recommended, schedule a consultation to review your diagnosis, preparation, and recovery. Our team can help with questions about an outside biopsy and the next steps in your skin cancer care.