Mohs surgery is a highly advanced treatment for skin cancer. Our surgeons have had extensive Fellowship Training beyond dermatology residency. Using the Mohs technique, the physician serves as oncologic surgeon, pathologist, and reconstructive surgeon.
Skin Cancer & Mohs Surgery
Home to Central & Upper Bucks County’s Only Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeons
Mohs Micrographic
SurgeryOur skin experts offer the latest Mohs surgery techniques to provide the highest possible cure rates for skin cancer.
- Skin Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment
Using a variety of techniques, our dermatologists diagnose & treat conditions of the skin, hair, nails & veins.
About the Mohs Surgery Technique
The Mohs surgery technique of skin cancer removal was developed to achieve definitive treatment of skin cancer with minimal damage to, and limited removal of, healthy skin. Unlike excisions—a standard dermatological procedure involving removal of the visible tumor along with a wide, arbitrary margin of normal skin—Mohs precisely excises only affected tissue, layer-by-layer, until the tumor is extracted in its entirety.
More about the Mohs Technique
Mohs emphasizes same-day results and a single on-site procedure, whereas excisions are sent off-site to a pathologist to be examined at a later date. Mohs surgery is considered the Gold Standard of skin cancer treatment, and is a highly advanced procedure and should only be performed by surgeons who specialize in the technique. When performed by a Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeon, like those at our practice, patients can expect and have come to rely on us for the definitive diagnosis and removal of skin cancers.
The Mohs procedure begins by removing the visible skin cancer and processing the sample in our on-site Mohs laboratory, where it is examined under the microscope by your surgeon. After evaluating the tissue, the Mohs surgeon draws a map to show where, if anywhere, residual skin cancer remains. Using this map, subsequent layers of cancer-containing tissue can then be removed while sparing the normal healthy tissue around it. This process is repeated until the entire skin cancer, including any roots, is removed.
Benefits of Mohs Surgery
This tissue-sparing technique of Mohs Surgery offers several advantages over other treatments.
Allows for potentially smaller scars because it minimizes the removal of normal, healthy skin.
Results in the highest cure rate of any treatments for skin cancer – up to 99% for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Reduces the risk of infection and eliminates the side effects of general anesthesia, as it is performed under local anesthesia.
About Skin Cancer Excisions
An excision is a minor surgical procedure performed on an outpatient basis in our office. The procedure involves the complete removal of a lesion. The excised tissue is sent to an outside laboratory for processing. Laboratory processing ensures all the margins are clear and the lesion has been completely removed.
Once the area is located, marked and cleaned, a local anesthetic will be injected into the surgical area.
Once the area is numb, the lesion as well as the surrounding tissue will be removed with a scalpel.
A machine will stop the small amount of bleeding. We will close the wound with sutures and a dressing.
The tissue will be sent off to ensure all margins are clear. You will get your laboratory results in 7-10 days.
Our Fellowship-Trained Mohs Surgeons
Robert J. Willard, MD, FAAD- Austin Liu, MD, FAAD
- Brett B. Miller, MD, FAAD
Schedule an Appointment
Our team provides thoughtful, expert care for all your skin health needs. We are proud to offer the most advanced general, surgical and cosmetic dermatological services in Bucks County. Your best skin awaits.